Welcome to Workplace Culture! Please ensure you read each section carefully. Estimated time to completion are below.
Workplace culture is the shared values, behaviors, and expectations within a work environment. Understanding how to adapt and contribute to different workplaces will help you succeed in any professional setting, whether in-person or remote.
Recognizing Workplace Culture (45 Minutes)
Adapting to Different Workplace Cultures (45 Minutes)
Contributing Positively to Workplace Culture (60 Minutes)
Final Project (90 minutes)
Estimated Completion Time: 4 Hours
Workplace culture is the personality of a company. It includes the work environment (formal vs. casual, flexible vs. structured), leadership and teamwork styles, communication expectations, and company values/ethics. Just like every family, ward or branch, and community group has a culture, so does each company or workplace. Put simply, a workplace culture is basically : "the way things are" at the company.
Here are three stories that demonstrate workplace culture:
1. The WhatsApp Misunderstanding
Fatima started her first remote job as a virtual assistant for a company based in Kenya. On her first day, she joined the company’s WhatsApp group and greeted everyone with “Good morning, family! I’m so excited to be here 😊.” She was surprised when no one responded. Later, her supervisor privately messaged her: “In our workplace, we keep WhatsApp strictly for work updates. Friendly chats should be in private messages.” Fatima realized that even though people in her community used WhatsApp casually, workplace culture required a more professional approach.
Lesson: Workplace culture determines communication style—some workplaces prefer a formal tone, even on familiar platforms like WhatsApp.
2. The Late-Night Email
James got his first job working remotely for a company in South Africa. One evening, he received an email from his manager at 10 PM. Unsure what to do, he quickly responded, thinking it was urgent. The next day, his manager thanked him but said, “We don’t expect you to reply outside of working hours. Make sure to rest and start fresh in the morning.” James was relieved to know that his company valued work-life balance. However, his friend Ayo, working for a different company, had a different experience—her team often sent messages at all hours and expected quick responses.
Lesson: Workplace culture defines expectations around working hours, and different companies have different approaches to work-life balance.
3. The Formal vs. Casual Workplace
Amina and her cousin David both started their first jobs at the same time. Amina worked for an international NGO, where emails were very formal, and employees always used proper titles when addressing colleagues. On the other hand, David worked for a small local startup, where people communicated casually, calling the CEO by his first name and even using emojis in emails. One day, Amina accidentally sent a casual email to her boss, saying, “Hey, I need your help with something.” Her boss gently corrected her, reminding her that professional communication was expected.
Lesson: Workplace culture influences how people communicate and whether a workplace is formal or informal.
Ways to Recognize Workplace Culture:
Observe communication styles – Are interactions formal or casual?
Look at leadership approaches – Is the leadership hierarchical or collaborative?
Examine company policies – What are the expectations for working hours, dress code, and flexibility?
Notice how employees interact – Are employees encouraged to work in teams or independently?
Check company values – Many organizations highlight their values on their websites or in job descriptions.
Example: A hospital has a structured work culture where employees must follow strict schedules and rules, while a small design agency may allow employees to work flexible hours as long as deadlines are met.
Reflection Questions:
Watch the YouTube video below on workplace culture basics. Write a reflection on:
What are three things that define workplace culture?
Why do you think workplace culture matters for employees? Write at least 5 sentences.
You will be asked to share your responses to these questions during this week's self-evaluation.
Workplace culture isn’t the same everywhere. It is highly dependent primarily on the leadership and people in the company and the culture that they create. It can change depending on the industry, country, company size, leadership style, and even the team you’re assigned to. Some cultures are highly formal, while others are relaxed. Some prioritize teamwork; others emphasize independent work. Recognizing these differences early helps you adapt and thrive. Adapting to a new work environment is an important skill that will help you integrate smoothly and succeed in different organizations.
Tips for Quickly Adapting to a Workplace Culture:
Observe and Learn – Pay attention to how colleagues communicate and work.
Ask Questions – If unsure about workplace expectations, seek clarification.
Be Open-Minded – Accept that different workplaces may have unique ways of operating.
Build Relationships – Get to know coworkers and network professionally.
Adjust Your Work Style – Adapt your approach based on what is expected in your specific workplace.
Respect What Matters to Others – Learn what your team or manager values and show that you care. This might include punctuality, meeting deadlines, using professional language, or being available during working hours.
Here are two scenarios that demonstrate both successful and poor adaptation.
Scenario 1: Adapting Successfully
You’ve just started a remote job with an international non-profit organization.
Your new team is diverse and includes people from different countries. In meetings, you notice that team members are warm and personal — they often start with a bit of small talk and use inclusive language like “we” and “our team.” You’re used to a more task-focused style, so at first, this feels slow.
But instead of judging it, you observe more closely. You start joining small talk at the beginning of meetings and begin your messages with friendly greetings. You also notice that people take turns speaking and avoid interrupting, so you adjust your own communication style. After a few weeks, you feel more connected to your team, and your manager praises your professionalism and ability to fit in quickly.
Scenario 2: Struggling to Adapt
You join a small startup as a remote customer support assistant.
The company moves fast and expects employees to take initiative. In your past volunteer work, you always waited for a supervisor to tell you what to do, so you continue doing the same here.
When your manager gives you a project, you complete only the parts you fully understand and ignore the rest, assuming someone will follow up with instructions. You don’t ask questions or communicate your progress. After a few weeks, your manager becomes frustrated and says you aren’t keeping up. You realize too late that this workplace expects independence, frequent updates, and self-direction — but you didn’t adapt your approach.
Reflection:
After reading both scenarios, take a few minutes to reflect. You will be asked to submit your responses in this week's self-evaluation.
In Scenario 1, what specific actions helped the person adapt successfully to the new workplace culture?
In Scenario 2, what could the employee have done differently to better understand and meet expectations?
Have you ever experienced a situation (in school, a volunteer role, or your community) where you had to adjust to fit in? What did you do?
What do these scenarios teach you about the importance of observation, communication, and flexibility in the workplace?
What will you personally do during your first week on a new job to learn about that workplace’s culture?
Even as a new employee, you are already a part of your team’s culture. You may have even been hired because the employer felt you were a good "culture fit" for their organization. Every action you take — whether it’s how you respond to messages, how reliable you are with deadlines, or how you support your teammates — shapes the workplace around you.
In this section, we’ll explore how you can build a strong reputation and help create a remote work environment that is positive, respectful, and collaborative.
Why This Matters
In a remote job, it can feel like you're on an island. But even without a shared office space, culture is built every day — through communication, trust, teamwork, and small moments of kindness.
Contributing to a positive culture helps you:
Build stronger working relationships
Increase your sense of purpose and belonging
Become someone others enjoy working with
Grow faster in your role and career
Simple Ways to Contribute to Workplace Culture
1. Communicate with Care
Reply to messages and emails on time
Be polite, professional, and clear in your writing
Ask questions when you’re unsure — it shows you care
Example: If a teammate shares a project update, reply with a short “Thanks for the update!” or a question that shows interest.
2. Be Reliable
Meet deadlines or let people know early if you’re struggling
Keep your calendar updated and attend meetings you’re invited to
Follow through on commitments
Example: If you promised to send a draft by Friday, even a quick message saying “Running a bit behind, I’ll send this Saturday morning” shows accountability.
3. Support and Encourage Others
Celebrate small wins (a quick “Great job!” in a team chat matters)
Offer to help when someone is stuck
Welcome new teammates warmly
Example: If someone finishes a presentation, say something kind like “You explained that so clearly — I learned a lot!”
4. Respect Differences
Be aware that teammates may come from different countries, cultures, or time zones
Avoid slang or jokes that could be misunderstood
Be patient and open-minded in discussions
Example: Instead of judging a quiet teammate, ask open-ended questions to invite them in: “Would you like to add your thoughts?”
5. Keep a Growth Mindset
Accept feedback as a tool for growth, not criticism
Stay open to learning new skills and improving your work habits
Share your ideas respectfully — your voice matters too!
Example: If your manager gives suggestions, thank them and apply what you can: “I’ll try that next time — thank you for the advice!”
Reflection
Take 3 minutes and write your thoughts. You will be asked to enter this into this week's self-evaluation.
Think of a time when someone made your work or study environment feel more positive. What did they do? How did it affect you?
Practice Activity: Workplace Culture Scenarios
Goal: Practice identifying positive and negative contributions to remote workplace culture — and think through how you would respond.
Instructions:
You will read three short workplace situations. For each one:
Choose the response that best contributes to a positive workplace culture.
Explain your choice in 1–2 sentences.
Reflect on how you would feel if you were part of the situation.
You will be asked to enter your responses in to this week's self-evaluation.
Scenario 1: Group Chat Silence
Your team lead shares exciting news in a group chat: the team reached a big milestone. No one responds for hours.
What would you do?
A. Say nothing — others will probably reply eventually.
B. React with an emoji only.
C. Reply with a message like "That's amazing! Thanks for leading us!"
Scenario 2: A Teammate Misses a Deadline
You were depending on a teammate’s report to finish your part of the project. The report is late, and you’re frustrated.
What would you do?
A. Complain in the group chat.
B. Message your teammate privately and ask if they’re okay or need help.
C. Do their part yourself and stay silent about it.
Scenario 3: A New Team Member Joins
A new person is added to your remote team. They introduce themselves, but no one else replies.
What would you do?
A. Reply with a warm welcome and a bit about yourself.
B. Ignore the message — you don’t know them yet.
C. Wait until your manager asks everyone to welcome them.
Key Takeaways
You don’t need a leadership title to influence workplace culture — small, positive actions matter
Remote work culture is shaped through communication, reliability, respect, and support
Being kind, responsive, and dependable helps everyone — including you — succeed
Objective:
This project helps you apply what you’ve learned in the Workplace Culture module to your current job. You’ll reflect on your workplace culture and create a plan to adapt and succeed in your new environment. You will submit this plan as a Word Document.
Section 1: Analyze Your Workplace Culture
Instructions:
Think about your new job at Springboard and answer each of these questions:
What is the company’s main mission or values?
What is the work environment like (formal or casual)?
How do people communicate (professional or informal)?
Who is the leadership and what is the leadership structure?
What is the personality of the workplace? What about your team?
Section 2: Create Your Adaptation Plan
Instructions:
Based on your analysis, create a simple plan for adapting to your new workplace culture. Include:
How will you communicate with your team? (Will you adjust to a more formal or casual style?)
How will you build relationships with colleagues? (Will you engage in team activities or one-on-one conversations?)
How will you maintain work-life balance? (Will you set clear boundaries for work hours?)
How will you contribute positively to your workplace culture?
Section 3: Set Goals for Yourself
Instructions:
Set 2-3 goals for how you will adapt to your new workplace culture. For example: (you must create your own goals, do not use these examples)
Goal 1: Communicate more professionally in emails and meetings.
Goal 2: Make connections with at least two colleagues in the first month.
Goal 3: Set a clear work-life balance by logging off at a certain time
Submit Your Project
Instructions:
Submit your project as a Word document on this week's self-evaluation
Evaluation Criteria:
Analysis: Understanding of your workplace culture.
Practical Plan: Feasibility of your adaptation plan.
Clarity: Clear explanation of your goals and steps.
You have reached the end of this module!