Donuts in the Workplace

I love company culture. Scratch that, I’m obsessed with it.

Gary Vaynerchuk hit the nail on the head when he said, “Company culture is the backbone of any successful organization.” I wholeheartedly believe it.

In my earlier career days, I associated company culture with pizza parties, company retreats, and “Employee of the Month” awards — the kind of stuff you’d expect at corporate giants like IBM or Microsoft. As I gained experience (and a bit of wisdom), I realized fostering a positive company culture goes much deeper than these grand acts.

The positive impact that a random box of donuts for the office can do for company culture is astounding. You don’t need “Employee of the Year” awards, volleyball courts, free meals or Hawaiian vacations to show your employees they are valued. Often, it's the little things that have the most significant impact.

Take our previous office, for example. The atmosphere was a little dreary and stale. The echoes of conversations and keyboards clacking would bounce off the walls. To brighten things up, I purchased an Echo Dot and connected it to an existing speaker system. The change was immediate and noticeable. I would catch people humming the songs or singing to themselves and the general atmosphere around the office became more welcoming.

Another example is bringing donuts to the office. Everyone loves donuts. Whether it’s for birthdays or just a random Tuesday donuts in the office can get conversations going and excitement brewing. It’s a small gesture but always a welcome one.

Here’s the thing: a positive and impactful company culture isn’t accidental. It’s intentionally crafted by key people in an organization who believe and understand its value. Cultivating a great culture isn't the sole responsibility of one person; it’s a collective effort where everyone contributes to the culture for each other.

While it might be easy to identify the positive ways company culture can impact, it’s equally important to be aware of the negative things that can ingrain themselves into the DNA of the organization. Too much head-down work, snarky comments, ego-driven behaviors, lack of appreciation, micromanagement, and unnecessary secrecy are all culture killers.

I encourage you to reflect on all of the ways your company practices good culture. You might be surprised. If nothing comes to mind, then I challenge you to initiate a small, yet meaningful gesture.

When it comes to company culture, don’t forget: something as simple as bringing donuts to the workplace can make a world of difference.