Organizational culture is like the heartbeat of any company. It sets the rhythm, defines the values, and drives the actions of the individuals within the organization. It's what sets great companies apart from the rest. But how do you shape and mold this elusive aspect of your organization? One answer lies in an unexpected place – training games.
Before delving into the symbiotic relationship between training games and organizational culture, it's essential to understand why organizational culture matters. It significantly impacts an organization's ability to reach its goals. It's the combination of values, beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes that shapes the essence of your organization.
Dutch researcher Gert Hofstede described organizational culture as "habitual, repeatable ways of operating that are passed on to subsequent members of the organization." It influences how we relate to ourselves, the roles assigned to leaders, how we celebrate success, and how we handle uncertainty, threats, and conflicts.
Mary Jo Hatch differentiates culture from image and identity. In an ideal scenario, these three aspects are in harmony, but this isn't always the case. Misalignment can hinder performance and goal achievement. Culture guides behavior, values, and the actions of an organization's members.
Shifting organizational culture is not a one-off HR project; it should be a business issue, something that the company president or managing director takes seriously. Discussions about culture should permeate managerial forums and be tied to the specifics that truly matter to employees.
So, what does this have to do with games? How do they support the creation of organizational culture?
Think of training games as flight simulators for organizations. They serve as a playground for honing competencies, fostering self-awareness, and preparing individuals to navigate through turbulent situations. As the saying goes, "playing together is the most natural form of fun and building bonds." In essence the power of games helps to transform conferences, meetings, team-building activities, onboarding processes, and instilling company values into exciting team experiences.
To find out more about specific ways in which games can be the catalysts for building and evolving organizational culture, reach out to our E-book:
Organizational culture and training games – what do they have in common and how do they complement each other?