From the breakroom to the boardroom: How everyday choices shape workplace culture and drive performance

When we talk about workplace culture, it’s often in vague terms. It’s the “vibe.” The unspoken rules. The stuff between the lines of the mission statement. But let’s get real: culture isn’t the soft stuff. It’s the hard stuff. It’s the operating system that either accelerates your people or grinds them down. And whether you’re on the executive team or just trying to make it to Friday with your sanity intact, you shape the culture every day.

In my work with organizations across sectors and around the world, I’ve seen this truth play out again and again: culture is built in the smallest interactions, and either reinforced or dismantled in moments when no one thinks anyone is watching.

Let’s talk about how we shift culture without needing a rebrand, a retreat, or a miracle.

Culture Isn’t Built in a Day (But It Is Built Every Day)

We tend to think about culture as a top-down phenomenon, but in reality, it’s more like a living, breathing organism, responsive to every input. What gets celebrated, what gets ignored, and what gets quietly tolerated speaks volumes.

For individuals:

• Ask yourself: What is it like to be on the other side of me? Then listen to what comes up and act on it.
• Normalize gratitude. Not the big, performative gestures, but small, consistent appreciation. “Thanks for looping me in” or “I noticed how you handled that tough call. That took poise.” It costs nothing and builds psychological safety like nothing else.
• Choose alignment over agreement. You don’t have to like every policy or coworker, but you can still act with integrity and kindness.

For people leaders:

• Model what you want multiplied. If you cut corners on transparency or feedback, so will your team.
• Create systems for listening that aren’t just about collecting input but also enable you to respond to it. If people share and nothing changes, they stop sharing.
• Reward not just outcomes, but behaviors. When collaboration and compassion are recognized alongside productivity, people show up differently.

Culture Change Starts with Culture Awareness

You can’t change what you won’t name. That’s why the most successful cultural transformations start by getting real, without sugarcoating or spin.

Ask the uncomfortable questions:

• Where are we out of alignment with our stated values?
• What’s one thing we keep tolerating even though we know it’s hurting us?
• What stories do people tell when they leave, and are they different from the ones we tell ourselves?

These aren’t gotcha questions. They’re compass points. And when we pair them with curiosity instead of defensiveness, they become the foundation for sustainable growth.

The Workplace Culture We Build Is the Culture We Live In

Here’s the good news: workplace culture isn’t static. It shifts, because people shift. With intention, we can shape a culture that isn’t just performatively “nice” or obsessively “driven,” but one that truly supports both well-being and excellence.

What would happen if we treated culture-building like a shared responsibility instead of a side project for HR?

What if we all recognized that culture isn’t just how we work but also how we feel at work?

And what if we made it just a little easier for people to love their jobs?

It’s possible. I’ve seen it. I’ve helped build it. And you can be part of it, too. Start today by taking one small step. And then take another tomorrow. You’ll be surprised by how quickly you see results.

About the Author

Dr. Sarah Ratekin is a workplace happiness and gratitude expert, keynote speaker, and Chief Happiness Officer at Happiness Is Courage and The Happiness Haven. A Navy veteran and seasoned organizational strategist, she helps companies transform culture through actionable, people-centered practices. With experience spanning Fortune 100s to nonprofits, Dr. Ratekin’s work focuses on the intersection of well-being and performance. She’s on a mission to prove that a thriving culture isn’t a luxury, it’s a leadership imperative.

Connect with Dr. Sarah: Happinessiscourage.com