2. The Ways HR Can Influence Organisational Culture

HR professionals play a pivotal role in shaping and influencing an Organisation's culture, which can have a profound impact on its performance, employee satisfaction, and overall success. In today's ever-evolving business landscape, HR is no longer just a cost center but is recognized as a valuable stakeholder in a company's achievements.

Here are key ways in which HR can actively influence and foster a positive Organisational culture:

1. Treating Employees Fairly and Responsibly: HR should ensure that employees are treated fairly and that decisions are based on merit rather than bias. Fair and consistent implementation of policies, holding employees accountable for their actions, and providing necessary resources can create a culture of trust and collaboration.

2. Promoting Diversity and Inclusion: HR can champion diversity and inclusion initiatives by creating a safe and inclusive workplace environment. This includes providing anti-bias training, using inclusive language in job postings, and establishing procedures to support employees facing discrimination. This helps build a culture that values and celebrates differences.

3.  Creating a Positive Work Environment: HR can shape a positive work environment by developing employee-centric policies that encourage engagement and commitment. This can involve fostering collaboration, incentivizing employees for going above and beyond, and creating a safe space for open communication about issues. Career advancement opportunities and support for personal growth also contribute to a culture of appreciation and support.

4.  Organisational Values and Ethics: HR plays a critical role in setting and enforcing ethical standards. By establishing clear values and expectations, HR can ensure that employees are held accountable for their actions and maintain a sense of camaraderie within the workplace.

5.  Providing Training and Development Opportunities: HR can support a culture of continuous learning and growth by offering training and development opportunities. These can include educational seminars, mentorship programs, and personalized professional development, fostering mutual respect and trust among employees. Therefore, the entire organisation can achieve the below benefits by providing training and development opportunities. 

6.  Encouraging Innovation and Creativity: Innovation is a driving force for Organisational excellence. HR can promote innovation by creating an environment that encourages experimentation and risk-taking, facilitates brainstorming sessions, and fosters open communication. Providing resources and support for employees to be creative and take calculated risks is also crucial.

7.  Helping Leaders Drive Consistency: Company culture extends beyond written values. If the leadership doesn't actively reflect and embody these values, their presence on a webpage is essentially meaningless. Culture is primarily influenced by those in top leadership positions and permeates through every organisational layer, especially through the example set by the individuals in the chain of command. Human Resources plays a crucial role in assisting leaders to consistently and repeatedly promote the cultural expectations, thus ensuring that the established standards are consistently maintained at all organisational levels.

8.  Ensuring Communication, and Process Integration: An organization's distinct culture is shaped by its values and beliefs. An excellent HR team goes beyond merely clarifying what the organization represents; they also facilitate effective communication and integrate processes to put these values into practice. These organizational values and beliefs also play a critical role in guiding recruitment, skill development, and decision-making processes.

In conclusion, HR's influence on Organisational culture is profound and multifaceted. By prioritizing fairness, diversity, a positive work environment, ethics, learning, and innovation, HR professionals can actively shape a culture that enhances employee morale, engagement, and overall business success. In an era where culture directly impacts an Organisation's bottom line, these strategies are essential for sustainable growth and competitiveness (Admin, 2023; Panel®, E.2020).

References

1. Admin (2023). 6 Ways HR Manager Aligns Positive Organisational Culture. [online] Westford University College. Available at: https://www.mywestford.com/blog/6-ways-hr-can-influence-organisational-culture/#:~:text=Organisational%20values%20and%20ethics%20play [Accessed 8 Nov. 2023].

2. Panel®, E. (2020). Council Post: 13 Ways HR Can Help Build A Sustainable Company Culture. [online] Forbes. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2020/09/21/13-ways-hr-can-help-build-a-sustainable-company-culture/?sh=61210f5e63a3 [Accessed 8 Nov. 2023].

3. www.tutorialspoint.com. (n.d.). HRM - Organizational Culture. [online] Available at: https://www.tutorialspoint.com/human_resource_management/human_resource_management_organizational_culture.htm#:~:text=Organizational%20Culture%20and%20HR%20Practices [Accessed 8 Nov. 2023].