175 Words to Describe Company Culture

Company culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, behaviors, practices, and norms within an organization. It encompasses the company’s mission, expectations, and the environment in which employees work.

Company culture can manifest in various ways, including:

1. Values and Beliefs: These are the fundamental principles that guide the company’s actions and decisions. They serve as the foundation for the company’s culture.
2. Work Environment: This includes the physical layout of the workplace, the nature of interactions among employees, and the overall vibe or atmosphere. A positive work environment can foster collaboration and creativity, while a negative one can hinder productivity.
3. Leadership Style: The way leaders manage and guide their teams can greatly influence the company’s culture. For instance, a leadership style that emphasizes open communication and empowerment can cultivate a culture of trust and autonomy.
4. Communication: How information flows within the organization, the transparency of decisions, and the methods used for communication can all be indicators of company culture.
5. Behaviors and Norms: These are the unwritten rules and expectations about how employees interact with each other, handle conflicts, and approach their work.

Below are a range of words that might describe your company’s culture – from overwhelmingly positive to overly negative.

Words to Describe Company Culture

Positive Words

1. Innovation – A company that encourages new ideas and methods.
2. Transparency – A company committed to openness in communication and operations.
3. Integrity – A company that adheres to moral and ethical principles.
4. Collaboration – Working together to achieve common goals.
5. Diversity – Valuing differences in race, gender, background, etc.
6. Inclusivity – A team that ensures everyone feels valued and included.
7. Agility – Ability to quickly adapt to changes.
8. Accountability – Choosing to take responsibility for your actions – good and bad.
9. Empowerment – Giving employees the tools and authority to make decisions.
10. Respect – Valuing and considering others’ feelings and rights.
11. Flexibility – Willingness to adjust in response to different situations.
12. Sustainability – Focusing on long-term environmental and social responsibility.
13. Passion – Deep enthusiasm and zeal for work.
14. Excellence – Pursuing outstanding quality and performance.
15. Growth – Expansion and development focus.
16. Learning – Continuous skill and knowledge development.
17. Fun – Encouraging enjoyment in the workplace.
18. Feedback – Constructive criticism and appreciation.
19. Empathy – Understanding and sharing others’ feelings.
20. Loyalty – Commitment to the organization’s success.
21. Community – Fostering a sense of belonging in the office.
22. Balance – Ensuring work-life equilibrium for employees.
23. Adaptability – Ability to change or be changed.
24. Trust – Reliability and truthfulness which attracts customers.
25. Efficiency – Maximizing productivity with minimal waste.
26. Harmony – Peaceful coexistence among employees.
27. Courage – Bravery in taking risks that match your principles.
28. Unity – Togetherness and solidarity as a group.
29. Visionary – Focused on future potential and the overall vision.
30. Autonomy – Allowing independent decision-making among the team.
31. Positivity – Encouraging optimistic attitudes in the workplace.
32. Recognition – Acknowledging and appreciating efforts.
33. Professionalism – Maintaining a high standard of behavior at all times.
34. Engagement – Involvement and enthusiasm in tasks.
35. Generosity – Willingness to give and share with one another.
36. Reliability – A culture of consistency and dependability among team members.
37. Ethical – Acting in a morally upright manner.
38. Proactive – Taking initiative without being prompted.
39. Camaraderie – A sense of fellowship among members.
40. Consistency – Steadiness in actions and principles.
41. Dedication – Strong commitment to tasks or goals.
42. Resilience – Ability to recover quickly from difficulties.
43. Ambition – A strong desire to achieve stated goals.
44. Open-mindedness – Willingness to consider new ideas to continue to innovate.
45. Supportive – Providing encouragement or assistance.
46. Quality – Meeting high standards in outputs.
47. Mentorship – Guiding and training colleagues.
48. Leadership – Guiding and influencing team members.
49. Teamwork – Collaborative effort to achieve goals.
50. Productivity – Efficiently producing significant outputs.
51. Authenticity – Being genuine and real which attracts loyal fans.
52. Gratitude – Showing appreciation for one another and customers or clients.
53. Initiative – Taking charge before being asked.
54. Wellness – Focusing on employee health and well-being.
55. Challenge – Encouraging taking on difficult tasks.
56. Creativity – Valuing imaginative and unique ideas.
57. Communication – Open, effective exchange of information.
58. Responsibility – Duty to deal with something.
59. Mindfulness – Being conscious of the present moment.
60. Development – Focusing on personal and professional growth.
61. Fairness – Impartial and just treatment.
62. Equity – Ensuring equal access to opportunities.
63. Perseverance – Persistence despite difficulties.
64. Synergy – Combined efforts being more effective than individual ones.
65. Humility – Modesty and lack of arrogance.
66. Kindness – Being considerate and generous.
67. Mission-driven – Guided by a clear purpose and company mission statement.
68. Optimism – Hopefulness about the possibilities of the future.
69. Punctuality – Being on time could be highly important to the company culture.
70. Commitment – Dedication to a cause or task, especially common among NGOs.
71. Stewardship – Responsible management of resources.
72. Entrepreneurial – Willing to take risks in business.
73. Customer-focused – Prioritizing client needs and remembering clients are the most important.
74. Strategic – Planning with a long-term perspective.
75. Adventurous – Willing to explore new territories and ideas for future growth.
76. Service-oriented – Focused on serving your community and clients.
77. Discipline – Controlled behavior or self-restraint.
78. Holistic – Considering the whole rather than just parts.
79. Curiosity – Desire to learn and know more at all times.
80. Global-mindedness – Thinking with a worldwide perspective.
81. Collaborative – Working jointly on an activity.
82. Continuous Improvement – Ongoing effort to better products or services.
83. Legacy – Impact that lasts beyond one’s tenure.
84. Diligence – Careful and persistent effort prolonged over time.
85. Confidentiality – Ensuring the privacy of staff and clients.
86. Drive – A workplace that has an atmosphere of motivation.
87. Purpose – Clear reason for doing something and pursuing your vision.
88. Intuition – Understanding without conscious reasoning.
89. Tolerance – Acceptance of different views in the workplace and community.
90. Enthusiasm – Intense enjoyment or interest in the company’s mission and products or services.
91. Solidarity – Unity in action or feeling as a group in the office.
92. Introspection – A culture where you always self-reflect to achieve constant growth.
93. Meritocracy – Rewarding staff based on merit, such as through KPI bonuses.
94. Egalitarianism – Belief in equality for all, both among staff and clients.
95. Inspirational – A workplace whose leaders create a sense of motivation among the whole team.
96. Meticulous – Showing great attention to detail to ensure high-quality output.
97. Tenacity – Persistent determination in order to drive toward goals.
98. Harmonious – Forming a pleasing or consistent whole as a company.
99. Sociability – A workplace that encourages social interaction and networking.
100. Human-centric – Focusing on human needs and values above or equal to profit.

See Also: 27 Examples of Company Cultures

Negative Words

101. Toxic: Harmful behaviors and attitudes that damage employee well-being.
102. Hierarchical: Strict top-down decision-making with little input from lower levels.
103. Opaque: Lack of transparency in decisions and operations.
104. Micromanaging: Overly controlling management that stifles employee autonomy.
105. Rigid: Unwillingness to adapt or change established procedures.
106. Exclusive: Not inclusive; certain groups may feel left out or undervalued.
107. Cutthroat: Employees competing against each other aggressively.
108. Stagnant: Little growth, innovation, or progression.
109. Overworked: Employees consistently working beyond capacity.
110. Unsupportive: Lack of resources or encouragement for employees.
111. Distrusting: A culture where trust is lacking, and suspicion is common.
112. Fragmented: Teams or departments working in silos without collaboration.
113. Bureaucratic: Excessive red tape and unnecessary procedures.
114. Unethical: Engaging in or tolerating morally questionable behaviors.
115. Burnout: Employees regularly feeling exhausted and disengaged.
116. Unrewarding: Lack of recognition or compensation for hard work.
117. Disorganized: Lack of structure or clear processes.
118. Inflexible: No allowance for alternative work schedules or remote work.
119. Apathetic: Indifference to employee needs or concerns.
120. Reactive: Only addressing problems after they arise, rather than being proactive.
121. Elitist: Favoritism towards certain groups or individuals.
122. Isolating: Employees feel alone or unsupported.
123. Uncommunicative: Poor communication channels or practices.
124. Chaotic: Lack of direction, leading to confusion and disorder.
125. Conformist: Discouraging individuality or unique approaches.

Words to Describe a Startup Company

126. Agile: Able to quickly adapt to changes and pivot when necessary.
127. Bootstrapped: Self-funded, often operating on a tight budget.
128. Innovative: Constantly coming up with new ideas and solutions.
129. Disruptive: Aiming to change the status quo of an industry.
130. Passionate: Driven by a strong belief in the startup’s mission.
131. Hustle: A relentless work ethic and drive.
132. Lean: Efficient operations with minimal waste.
133. Risk-taking: Willing to take big chances for potential rewards.
134. Collaborative: Team members working closely together.
135. Transparent: Open communication about decisions, successes, and failures.
136. Visionary: Focused on a long-term, big-picture goal.
137. Resilient: Bouncing back from setbacks and failures.
138. Hands-on: Everyone, including leaders, is involved in day-to-day operations.
139. Pioneering: Exploring uncharted territories or markets.
140. Fast-paced: Things move quickly, with rapid decision-making.
141. Iterative: Constantly refining products or services based on feedback.
142. Autonomous: Teams or individuals have independence in their roles.
143. Resourceful: Making the most out of limited resources.
144. Diverse: Valuing a mix of backgrounds and perspectives.
145. Empowering: Encouraging team members to take initiative.
146. Flexible: Offering adaptable work hours or remote work options.
147. Growth-oriented: Focused on rapid expansion and scaling.
148. Customer-centric: Prioritizing customer needs and feedback.
149. Holacratic: A flat organizational structure with no traditional hierarchy.
150. Energetic: A vibrant and dynamic work atmosphere.
151. Meritocratic: Rewarding talent and hard work over seniority.
152. Adaptive: Quickly adjusting to market feedback.
153. Grinding: Putting in long hours to achieve goals.
154. Experimental: Trying out new ideas without fear of failure.
155. Open-minded: Receptive to unconventional ideas or methods.
156. Community-driven: Building strong relationships with users or customers.
157. Flat: Limited levels of hierarchy, promoting open communication.
158. Challenging: Pushing boundaries and setting high standards.
159. Frugal: Being economical and avoiding unnecessary expenses.
160. Intrapreneurial: Encouraging employees to act as entrepreneurs within the startup.
161. Unconventional: Not bound by traditional business norms.
162. Tenacious: Persistent in overcoming challenges.
163. Ambitious: Setting high goals and aiming to achieve them.
164. Transparent: Openness in sharing company metrics, successes, and failures.
165. Learning-oriented: Prioritizing personal and professional development.
166. Optimistic: Maintaining a positive outlook, even when faced with challenges.
167. Casual: Informal dress codes and interactions.
168. Feedback-driven: Regularly seeking and acting on feedback.
169. Hands-off: Leaders trusting their teams to perform without micromanagement.
170. Empathetic: Understanding and addressing team members’ needs and concerns.
171. Networked: Building connections with other startups and industry players.
172. Mentorship-focused: Experienced members guiding newer ones.
173. Nimble: Able to swiftly respond to opportunities or threats.
174. Evolutionary: Continuously evolving based on experiences and learnings.
175. Humble: Recognizing that there’s always more to learn and improve on.

Conclusion

If you’re interested in describing your company’s culture, then chances are, you’ll likely want to have a think about embedding those descriptions into to core documents:

• Your vision statement
• Your mission statement

So, the next thing to read is my guide on how to write a vision and mission statement for your company.