What is Team Culture?

Culture is a word we often hear in regards to the workplace and the media. We might discuss things like, 'have you heard about this business', apparently their culture is terrible.' So, what is team culture? Team culture in the workplace is a frame of reference that members of a group have found beneficial for success in dealing with their particular common environment. Team culture incorporates attitudes, values, beliefs and behaviours shared by a group of people. These factors can be positive or negative.

Culture is often difficult to define as it's generally unspoken and does not have a set of defined rules. All or almost all members of the team share the culture. Older members pass the knowledge and respect of the culture to newer members. Culture structures one's perception of the team and is the framework defining how you operate.

Culture defines:

• How you communicate
• What is appropriate and what is not
• How you relate to other people
• How you approach problems

How to Improve Team Culture?

Having the right tools to improve team culture is the first step to create a positive team culture. Tools such as HR Surveys and Team Culture DISC Assessments provide a picture of your culture in its current state. Using the findings from the team culture assessment tools, you can pinpoint the areas that have the most significant negative impact on the team and create actionable changes to improve these areas. 

Surveys are essential to understand what the current team culture looks like. Surveys provide you with a snapshot of the behaviours, attitudes, values and mindsets that shape the existing team culture. By recognising the current team culture, you can determine how it shapes negative or positives views and behaviours. For example, whether there is a common cultural characteristic regarding positive collaboration and teamwork. Or whether there are damaging behaviours such as gossiping and sub-teaming. Surveys are a great starting point to identify how to improve team culture. 

DISC Team Culture Assessments are another great way to identify the team type. This assessment provides information on whether the team members have a similar style and, therefore, if any gaps may exist in the team or whether the team is diverted, causing conflict and sub-teaming. Surveys provide the overall picture. The DISC Team Culture Assessment explains why the team culture is the way it is.

Why is Team Culture Important?

A thriving team culture brings together the people and keeps them aligned. When your team culture is positive and clear those in the team, group members can get behind it with a common purpose and goal. Team culture is important to set expectations for how people should behave and work together. A positive team culture ensures groups function well. On the flip side, toxic team culture can create obstacles in decision making and disrupt collaboration and workflow. 

Team culture is important for team cohesion, engagement and productivity. We spend up to 40 hours a week with our teams interacting with the same people most days. Ensuring your team can effectively anticipate and prepare for potential points of conflict will ensure any disagreements are handled swiftly and productively. Understanding the team culture can also help you understand their shared strengths, development areas, and gaps in the team. These insights ensure tasks are assigned accordingly, and the right members are in place to tackle projects. 

Understand How to Assess Team Culture with DISC Assessments.

Team Culture Assessment

Have you ever been frustrated when working with a particular team? They seem to get on your nerves because they're too loud or keep asking for more data? Some teams work effectively, and others encounter lots of conflicts. Understanding a team's culture and dominant style can help with these situations.

Every team has its strengths and challenges. Different factors influence the team's culture, including the spread of personalities, the leader's personality type, and the team's type of work. The team, in effect, has a particular personality, pressures to behave in specific ways, and prioritise certain behaviours. The majority of team members may feel comfortable in the team's culture. However, others may feel uncomfortable if their DISC style differs considerably from the group's.

The Team Culture reports help consultants and HR Managers understand if their team is homogeneous, heterogeneous, or diverted, which behavioural traits dominate the team and how each team member contributes to different DISC team cultures. These insights help overcome conflict and tension in teams leading to a more cohesive environment. The reports are available in various formats to target specialist teams, remote teams, project teams, and sales teams. 

Team Culture Types

Three are three team culture types, homogeneous teams, heterogeneous teams and diverted teams. 

Assess your Team Culture Today