SUMMARY POINTS
Do you remember this?
It’s your first week at the company. You’re eager, driven, bursting with fresh ideas. Not only are you knocking out all of your grunt work but you’re also going above and beyond to impress your boss and others. You want to make a significant positive impact and build up your personal brand at work.
As the days turn into weeks, months and years, you’re unbridled enthusiasm for making a huge impact at work is gone to shit. One of the main reasons for this is that all of your unique ideas, opinions and efforts to make things better aren’t being taken seriously or worse, being shut down by office assholes. You end up having to work harder to see the improvements and changes you’re recommending.
Instead of your ideas being welcomed, they're met with raised eyebrows and polite smirks that cleary convey the thought, “Good luck with that.” You spend your days frustrated, trying to convince everyone that your way is better. You’re exhausted, stressed, and questioning every career decision you’ve made.
You’re not the eager beaver anymore. You’ve become what you told yourself that you’d never turn into - another jaded veteran at the company whose spirits have been broken. They’ve resigned themselves to just being a cog in the machine.
Here’s the hard truth - unless you’re the company owner, it’s fucking impossible to change a company’s culture as an individual. But you don’t have to suffer. The smarter (and less stressful!) move is to stop fighting the system and learn how to go with the flow for an easier life with less stress.
It’s your first week at the company. You’re eager, driven, bursting with fresh ideas. Not only are you knocking out all of your grunt work but you’re also going above and beyond to impress your boss and others. You want to make a significant positive impact and build up your personal brand at work.
As the days turn into weeks, months and years, you’re unbridled enthusiasm for making a huge impact at work is gone to shit. One of the main reasons for this is that all of your unique ideas, opinions and efforts to make things better aren’t being taken seriously or worse, being shut down by office assholes. You end up having to work harder to see the improvements and changes you’re recommending.
Instead of your ideas being welcomed, they're met with raised eyebrows and polite smirks that cleary convey the thought, “Good luck with that.” You spend your days frustrated, trying to convince everyone that your way is better. You’re exhausted, stressed, and questioning every career decision you’ve made.
You’re not the eager beaver anymore. You’ve become what you told yourself that you’d never turn into - another jaded veteran at the company whose spirits have been broken. They’ve resigned themselves to just being a cog in the machine.
Here’s the hard truth - unless you’re the company owner, it’s fucking impossible to change a company’s culture as an individual. But you don’t have to suffer. The smarter (and less stressful!) move is to stop fighting the system and learn how to go with the flow for an easier life with less stress.
What Is Company Culture And How Does It Affect Us?
Company culture is basically the personality of a workplace. It’s the unspoken set of values, rules, attitudes, and behaviors that define how to get shit done. Think of it as the internal informal policy that influences everything from how teams collaborate to whether people feel like they can take a lunch break without guilt.
Really, it’s no different than the personalities of people. It’s like when you were dating. You experienced all sorts of personalities. Some of which you got along with and others that just created a lot of friction. In the end, what you and many others realize is that you can’t change someone’s core personality. So, you either adapt or move on.
This is fundamentally the same kind of situation with company cultures. Company culture is like a personality and no matter what you do, you won’t be able to change it.
The impact of company culture on your daily work life is massive. A culture that meshes with you can make you feel supported, productive, happy and give you lots of positive vibes. A toxic one can suck the joy out of Mondays (and every other day ending in “y”) and eventually make you want to quit.
Company culture plays such a huge key role that it can affect everything from employee retention to mental well-being. And here’s the kicker - every workplace culture is different. Whether it’s a fast-paced tech startup where you’re constantly trying new methods and processes or a old school corporate giant with a “this is how we’ve always done it” mantra, recognizing these differences is essential to your survival (and sanity).
Really, it’s no different than the personalities of people. It’s like when you were dating. You experienced all sorts of personalities. Some of which you got along with and others that just created a lot of friction. In the end, what you and many others realize is that you can’t change someone’s core personality. So, you either adapt or move on.
This is fundamentally the same kind of situation with company cultures. Company culture is like a personality and no matter what you do, you won’t be able to change it.
The impact of company culture on your daily work life is massive. A culture that meshes with you can make you feel supported, productive, happy and give you lots of positive vibes. A toxic one can suck the joy out of Mondays (and every other day ending in “y”) and eventually make you want to quit.
Company culture plays such a huge key role that it can affect everything from employee retention to mental well-being. And here’s the kicker - every workplace culture is different. Whether it’s a fast-paced tech startup where you’re constantly trying new methods and processes or a old school corporate giant with a “this is how we’ve always done it” mantra, recognizing these differences is essential to your survival (and sanity).
The Myth Of Changing Company Culture
We all want to think we can be the trailblazing hero who transforms an outdated workplace into a forward-thinking utopia. But here’s the thing - that’s easier said than done.
Changing company culture is impossible. Hell, tons of CEOs of well-known Fortune 500 companies have tried multiple times and failed to change company cultures. That’s how fucking hard it is to make changes to a company’s core culture.
The reality is that it's a monumental task, usually tackled from the top-down by leadership teams with significant (really significant) resources. One example of this is when Steve Jobs took back control of Apple and completely changed the company’s culture back to it’s roots.
For average employees, trying to change an entire organizational personality can be like trying to move a mountain with a teaspoon. You’ll be overwhelmed AF. It ain’t happening.
Changing company culture is impossible. Hell, tons of CEOs of well-known Fortune 500 companies have tried multiple times and failed to change company cultures. That’s how fucking hard it is to make changes to a company’s core culture.
The reality is that it's a monumental task, usually tackled from the top-down by leadership teams with significant (really significant) resources. One example of this is when Steve Jobs took back control of Apple and completely changed the company’s culture back to it’s roots.
For average employees, trying to change an entire organizational personality can be like trying to move a mountain with a teaspoon. You’ll be overwhelmed AF. It ain’t happening.
Why It's Hard (and Stressful) to Change Culture
So, why is it so difficult to change company culture?
Well, for starters, it's a deeply ingrained way of doing things. Trying to change years or decades long corporate behaviors, policies and procedures can mean facing a long uphill battle and resistance from long-time employees who are comfortable with the status quo.
And here’s why - it means that everyone else needs to change their ways from what they’ve always been accustomed to. It’s like somebody asking you to totally change up your easy evening routine to something that is a lot more frustrating.
Also, cultural changes often involve disrupting entrenched power dynamics and challenging established norms. Both huge undertakings that can be exhausting and emotionally taxing.
And let’s not forget about the fear of failure.
Trying to change something as complex as company culture is risky business. If your efforts fall short (or worse, backfire), you could end up screwing up kick-ass alliances, alienating colleagues and damaging your reputation in the process.
Instead of spending your energy banging your head against the wall on a crusade to make things better and transform company culture single-handedly, there’s a better way.
Well, for starters, it's a deeply ingrained way of doing things. Trying to change years or decades long corporate behaviors, policies and procedures can mean facing a long uphill battle and resistance from long-time employees who are comfortable with the status quo.
And here’s why - it means that everyone else needs to change their ways from what they’ve always been accustomed to. It’s like somebody asking you to totally change up your easy evening routine to something that is a lot more frustrating.
Also, cultural changes often involve disrupting entrenched power dynamics and challenging established norms. Both huge undertakings that can be exhausting and emotionally taxing.
And let’s not forget about the fear of failure.
Trying to change something as complex as company culture is risky business. If your efforts fall short (or worse, backfire), you could end up screwing up kick-ass alliances, alienating colleagues and damaging your reputation in the process.
Instead of spending your energy banging your head against the wall on a crusade to make things better and transform company culture single-handedly, there’s a better way.
You Gotta Adapt & Go With The Flow
Going with the flow doesn’t mean giving up and relinquishing yourself to the matrix. What it really means is learning to find your groove and adapt yourself so that you can make the best of your current circumstances without losing your shit in the process.
Here’s how you can do it smoothly and stress-free.
Here’s how you can do it smoothly and stress-free.
Learn The Lay Of The Land
Take time to observe the unspoken rules. Is everyone glued to their desks at lunchtime, or do they enjoy midday habits to unplug and recharge? Are email greetings formal or sprinkled with emojis? Understanding the norms will help you blend in without stepping on toes.
Follow Existing Processes
As much as it pains you to follow inefficient processes and procedures, just know that they’ve been put in place that way for a long time and changing it isn’t worth it. Instead, follow existing steps and framework. This will not only make your life easier but also show that you don’t want to be a rebel and stir shit up.
Care Less But Don’t Be Careless
You gotta come to grips with the fact that not every tiny little task needs your soul poured into it. Care less, but don’t be careless. Make sense? Deliver quality work, but know it’s okay if not every single email, report and presentation you create send is Pulitzer-worthy.
Identify And Ignore Toxic Assholes
Every workplace has office assholes. The bullshit gossiper, the annoying nitpicker, the sly backstabber, the never-happy-about-anything colleague. Learn to smile, nod, and mentally tune them out. Trust, your mental health will thank you.
Pivot Your Energy
Instead of fighting the culture, focus on excelling within its framework. If it’s a rigid, traditional place, find ways to add value within those boundaries. If it’s a laid-back startup, take calculated risks that align with the vibe.
Save Your Sanity & Go With The Flow
At the end of the day, here’s the truth - company culture is like dating personalities. Some cultures align well with you while others less so. Your job is to find ways to mesh with the culture that won’t send you off into the deep end.
Remember, your job is just one part of your being, not your entirety. And if you dedicate too much importance and value to it then it will ultimately ruin you. Don’t lose sight of the fact that it’s just a job that is part of your life, not your whole life.
Adapting to company culture and going with the flow (not against it) is the solution.
This will reduce work stress, not add to it. The best way forward is to find a groove that works for you and melds in with the culture. Then, focus on what you can control, like how you react to your environment and how you maintain your peace of mind.
If the culture feels outright toxic and unworkable even after adapting to it, it’s okay to start looking for new opportunities and change jobs or industries where you feel more aligned. Your mental health and well-being is more important.
Don’t underestimate the power of going with the flow. If done right, you can find yourself in a good spot where you can not only survive but thrive in surprising ways.
Feel Better,
[Cubicle|Therapy]
Remember, your job is just one part of your being, not your entirety. And if you dedicate too much importance and value to it then it will ultimately ruin you. Don’t lose sight of the fact that it’s just a job that is part of your life, not your whole life.
Adapting to company culture and going with the flow (not against it) is the solution.
This will reduce work stress, not add to it. The best way forward is to find a groove that works for you and melds in with the culture. Then, focus on what you can control, like how you react to your environment and how you maintain your peace of mind.
If the culture feels outright toxic and unworkable even after adapting to it, it’s okay to start looking for new opportunities and change jobs or industries where you feel more aligned. Your mental health and well-being is more important.
Don’t underestimate the power of going with the flow. If done right, you can find yourself in a good spot where you can not only survive but thrive in surprising ways.
Feel Better,
[Cubicle|Therapy]