The One Thing That Sets Great Company Cultures Apart

(and it's not ping-pong tables)

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Over the past decade, I've worked with over 75+ workplace cultures in different capacities—Advisor, Fractional HR, VP of People, Culture Strategist, Culture Assessment Facilitator, Leadership Coach, and more.

I've observed these workplaces and found that the one thing distinguishing a great company culture from the rest comes down to one word, one act, one practice.

Kindness.

A kind culture changes the whole vibe of a workplace because kindness is within each action and interaction.

I’ve seen nice cultures—but nice is just a response. Niceties don’t hold the depth of what kindness can do and be. You can have a “nice-toxic” workplace culture, where surface-level politeness masks deeper issues like burnout, gossip, exclusion, or lack of leadership and humanity.

In a recent conversation, I shared this distinction:

What makes good company cultures great is kindness.

Being nice is surface-level—within a company culture, it’s temporary and reactive. Kindness, on the other hand, is deeper.

Nice is when you smile, wave, and say hi to someone— but what you say once that person is gone, how you talk about those not in the room, and the small but impactful interactions throughout the day that define true kindness.

Because you never know what someone is going through.

That—the decision to lead with kindness —is what sets great company cultures apart.

And the research backs this up:

• A 2022 study found that 77% of young professionals were more likely to apply to a company where kindness was a core value. (Forbes)

• Workplaces that actively practice kindness see happier, more engaged employees who perform better and stay longer. (PeopleThriver)

• Companies that foster kindness experience lower turnover rates, as employees feel valued and supported, leading to increased loyalty. (cashort.com)

Kindness is a business advantage.

So when you’re thinking about ways to improve your company culture, ask yourself:

Is my workplace kind?

And go from there.

I’m sending you tons of light and love for your week!

With Gratitude,

Charisse

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