Workplace Culture - what it is and where to start?

"Our culture needs some work — but we need clarity on where to start and what to prioritise."

I hear this all the time from HR and operational leaders juggling a million priorities while trying to build a culture that delivers great outcomes. The problem? Culture is often treated as intangible, overwhelming, and hard to measure—making it difficult to take meaningful action.

Having worked in corporate environments and as a consultant, I know the struggle. Culture isn’t just a “nice to have”—it’s the engine behind performance, retention, and engagement. But with so much research, conflicting advice, and complex frameworks out there, it’s easy to feel stuck.

So where do you start? How do you move from confusion to clarity?

Culture is Like a House

A well-built culture, like a well-built house, provides stability, efficiency, and a great place for people to do their best work.

Some companies look great on the surface, but their foundations are shaky. Others have strong fundamentals but struggle to evolve. The key is knowing where to focus.

The Culture Smart Framework: 4 Pillars of a Thriving Culture

To build a culture that works, organisations need to focus on four key areas:

1. Direction → What Guides Us

Clarity on vision, values, and priorities—so teams know where they’re headed.

2. Communication → The Trust Builder

Open, transparent, two-way conversations that keep people aligned.

 3. Experience → The Human Side

How people engage, contribute, and feel at work every day.

4. Systems → How We Work

The operational mechanics that enable collaboration and efficiency.

By breaking culture into manageable parts, we can move beyond the vague “we need to fix this” and focus on what actually drives change.

To build a culture where people thrive, contribute, and drive impact, all four dimensions must be intentionally designed, nurtured, and continuously improved.

Where does your organisation need to start? 

Consider this checklist: