A Positive Working Culture: The Secret to Happier Employees

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your work and unsure if you're in the right place? Have you wondered whether the positive working culture at your company is genuine or just for show? Have you found yourself debating whether you should go to work or call in sick instead?

Yes? No worries. I think we’ve all had this kind of experience at some point in our lives—unfortunately, when I think about it, I don’t know anyone who has only had good work experiences.

In this blog post, I will discuss the importance of a positive working culture and share some of my own experiences at Adaptive.

You will see why finding a company that aligns with your values, that is supportive and flexible, can make a huge difference in how you feel about your job!

What does value alignment mean?

Value alignment refers to how well a person's values, beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes align with the values, norms, and practices of an organization or group. In the context of the workplace, value alignment is often used to describe how well an employee or a candidate’s values resonate with the existing company culture.

Let’s pause for a moment. Good value alignment does NOT mean someone who enjoys participating in-office happy hours, attending dinners or events, or socializing frequently with colleagues. While these activities are important aspects of a collaborative and pleasant workplace, they do not define the essence of a company's culture.

Value alignment runs deeper than that—it’s about sharing similar values and work ethics, believing in the company’s mission and goals, and genuinely feeling connected to the purpose of your work.

However, it is also important to consider culture add, which refers to the unique contributions a person can bring to a company’s culture. A company benefits from employees who not only align with its core values but also add new perspectives and ideas, enhancing the overall workplace environment.

Here at Adaptive, culture add is just as important as value alignment. We firmly believe that everyone brings something unique to the table, we are all different, all have unique backgrounds and experiences. So let’s embrace and share those differences!

Disclaimer 1: What can be a bad working environment for you might not be for someone else and vice versa. At the end of the day, it is all about someone being aligned with the values and contributing positively to the cultural environment.

Disclaimer 2: Even if you are in a company that is not a perfect match for you, you can always learn something and find a positive outcome out of it. Nothing is all black or white in life :)

What does a positive working culture look like?

Although everyone has their own perception of what makes a positive working culture, there are some clear indicators of a toxic or unhealthy one. Long hours, micromanagement, lack of flexibility, and, most damaging of all, feeling undervalued or inadequate are red flags. Comments like, “Good afternoon,” when you arrive a few minutes late or “Oh, doing a half-day today?” when you leave on time suggest a culture that may not respect employees’ time or well-being.

While such environments might work for individuals who prefer strict hierarchies and constant oversight, let’s be honest—most people find these conditions draining and ultimately leave for healthier, more supportive workplaces.

Personally, that kind of environment doesn’t work for me. I thrive in environments where I’m trusted as the capable professional I am, where I have flexibility, feel psychologically safe, and have the freedom to express and implement my ideas.

If you’re nodding along with me, keep reading to see how Adaptive approaches things.

What makes Adaptive's positive working culture stand out?

Shared values and ethics

Adaptive values are Innovation, Collaboration, Autonomy, Accessibility, Respect, and Excellence. Yeah, you can tell me, “Sophia, you’re funny; everyone says that.” I agree—many companies out there praise themselves for having a positive working culture, and when you join, it is all disappointment.

The thing with Adaptive is that they never praise themselves for being the best in all aspects. They are honest, and when they are not good enough at something or make mistakes, they will just tell you. (i.e., Blog post: DEI in FinTech: Diversity in a Desert). The funny thing is, most of the time, when I say that I am working at Adaptive Financial Consulting, I receive this reaction: “OMG, A WOMAN IN THE IT FINANCIAL INDUSTRY!”

Guess what? Here, there is no such thing as “You are a woman.” Nope, I am Sophia, and my gender doesn’t matter—it doesn’t define who I am or my abilities to do something. We are all equal here, which is awesome. As you know, being a woman in this kind of industry can sometimes be a challenge in itself.

Here, your gender, religion, ethnicity, and sexual orientation are all part of what makes you amazing, and we celebrate them. We believe that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and supported whenever and wherever they need it. It’s hard to believe that some companies still don’t understand this.

We are in 2024—come on now. Let's all welcome diversity; our differences make our strength!

Having leaders instead of bosses

I have never worked before in a company with such approachable leaders. Marie Downes, our Chief Talent Officer, is always there to support me and the rest of the team, help me grow, answer all of my questions (and I can tell you that I have lots of questions!), and give me the liberty to work the way I know it’s best for my team and Adaptive.

She is not a boss; she is a leader.

Just to give you a little example: The first month I was at Adaptive, I made a mistake (not a big one, but still, my brain was trained since school to feel bad about making mistakes). I told Marie about it, and to my biggest surprise, she said, “No worries, Sophia, it is not your fault, we are going to make it right together. Remember it is not your fault; it means that I haven’t done my work properly at explaining to you how this should be done.” It was both mind-blowing and eye-opening for me. I was like “OMG Sophia, is this for real? Am I dreaming?.” It may sound silly, but when you are not used to this kind of reaction, it is mind-blowing.

Now, I am the Lead Talent Acquisition and have a fantastic team. My goal and mission are to ensure that I am a great, trustworthy leader for them and provide them with a safe space where they can grow and thrive.

Sharing is caring

Our founders made sure that when they created Adaptive twelve years ago, it would be a real pleasure to work with them. Among other aspects of the culture, it’s always possible to reach out to anyone in the company and talk to them directly; Matt (CEO) and Loïc (COO) themselves always find time to chat with me or answer my questions, which makes my work smoother.

Likewise, my colleagues are happy to sit with me and explain what they are working on, and I am always excited to explain my projects to them. We are a team, we want to grow together, and we firmly believe that we can ALL learn from each other.
At the end of the day, no matter who you are or how many years of experience you have, you can always learn something new from somebody else. Sharing and helping each other is key!

Work smart, live fully

Another important aspect, and probably the one thing I love the most. We have a great working/private-life balance. Sure, sometimes we all have to roll our sleeves up a pitch in to get something over the line. However, there’s a strong emphasis on ensuring that you understand that spending quality time with your loved ones and taking care of your mental health should be your top priority. At Adaptive, we have the freedom to manage our time, the flexibility to work from home, and no one looks when we clock in and out.

We can do this because we trust each other.

So, what’s a positive working culture?

In my opinion, a GREAT cultural environment should be a place where:

• You are trusted.
• You can share ideas freely.
• You are inspired by respectful leaders.
• There’s a strong team spirit, with everyone helping each other.

For me, feeling trusted and valued is the best part of working somewhere—and that’s exactly what I’ve found at Adaptive.

I’m curious, what does a positive working culture and a good cultural environment look like for you?