How to Evolve Organizational Culture to Drive Business Growth: Key Insights for Companies in a Changing Environment
In today’s dynamic business landscape, evolving organizational culture has become a fundamental pillar for success. Companies face the challenge of building and adapting a culture that not only fosters the well-being and development of their employees but also aligns with the strategic needs of the business and the expectations of its customers.
The Importance of a Dynamic and Customer-Centric Culture
For organizations, culture is not just a set of values or practices; it’s a living reflection of how things get done and how results are achieved. In times of change, like those we have experienced in recent years, this culture must continuously evolve to adapt to new challenges and opportunities.
An organizational culture that focuses on developing key competencies can be a crucial differentiator. This approach should focus not only on technical skills but also on abilities like adaptability, trust-building, and accountability in decision-making. These competencies enable employees not only to perform efficiently in their current roles but also to prepare for the changes the future will bring.
In 2023, at Apex, we understood that our culture had to evolve to remain relevant in a changing environment. We reviewed our model to ensure that our competencies not only responded to current needs but also prepared us for the future. This process, completed in 2024, allowed us to better align with our strategic objectives and meet our customers’ expectations.
Key Competencies for a Solid and Adaptive Culture
These are the three key competencies organizations should identify and strengthen to build a successful organizational culture, and how in Apex’s case, these competencies have been prioritized to ensure sustained growth:
- Transformational Learning: Fostering an environment where employees are open to new ways of doing things and see change as an opportunity to learn and grow. This competency helps companies remain agile and innovate in a constantly evolving environment.
- Closeness: The ability to build trust is essential for any organization that wants to create a solid culture. Closeness is reflected in empathy and the capacity to have meaningful conversations, allowing organizations to form strong alliances both internally and externally.
- Accountability: Accountability goes beyond meeting assigned tasks; it also means taking responsibility for the impact of decisions on business results and customer satisfaction. A culture that promotes this competency will ensure that all team members are committed to organizational goals.
We firmly believe that focusing on these competencies enables us to evolve our culture in a way that supports business growth while putting both the external and internal customer at the center of everything we do. It helps us build stronger relationships and continually improve our value proposition.
Building a Culture for the Future
For managers today, the question is not only how to maintain the current culture but also how to evolve it to remain relevant and effective. Companies must be willing to review and adjust their organizational competencies, focusing on those that will best enable them to achieve strategic goals and meet customer expectations.
Developing a strong organizational culture requires a proactive approach. This includes continuously evaluating the competencies needed for success, offering development opportunities for employees, and ensuring that the culture evolves in parallel with business needs and environmental changes.
In summary, building an effective and adaptable organizational culture is an ongoing process. Companies should focus on key competencies that allow their teams to fully develop while contributing to business success. Looking at examples of cultural evolution in other organizations can provide valuable lessons and serve as a guide in this important challenge. The key is to maintain a culture that is constantly evolving, centered on customer needs, and aligned with business strategy.
Natalia Cascardo
Global Director of Culture