We're honored to join 23 of our clients as Best Places to Work in 2025
Culture:
A system of shared beliefs and values, modeled and reinforced by leadership’s communication and behavior, that shapes the social and psychological experience of employees.
Does culture really matter?
You bet, it does. We see it every day, but we're also reminded in a really meaningful way each year when we attend the Indiana Chamber's annual Best Places to Work in Indiana event.
This year 24 organizations that have gone through ADVISA's process were named to the Best Places list – including us. It was fun to cheer, clap, and make a joyful noise with our plastic maracas every time one of our clients took the stage. We appreciate you all, and we celebrate your accomplishments in creating sustainably loved work cultures.
Following on the heels of seeing so many great cultures formally recognized, this volume of The Spark double clicks on culture-building tactics you can employ right away. Enjoy.
How to Create a Culture of Wellbeing
by Sarah Kolczak
I don’t know about you, but my inbox and LinkedIn feed are constantly flooded with the next new tactic to focus on employee wellness. As ADVISA’s self-appointed wellness lead, it’s easy to feel like I’m falling behind in supporting our team’s wellness if I’m not putting all of these things on the calendar or at the forefront of our employees’ minds.
If culture is defined as “a system of shared beliefs and values, modeled and reinforced by leadership’s communication and behavior, that shapes the social and psychological experience of employees,” how do these tactics fit in?
After working with lots of leaders, I’ve found that building culture is less about big events or initiatives. Yes, those are helpful. But I’ve found that a lot of culture is more built in the bricks than the big pillars – the little moments, the little conversations. I call them cultural moments.
This idea came from a friend of mine who’s a marriage and family therapist. I was talking to her about breakdown in family and marriage – and what are the big things. I thought it would be affairs or overspending or disrespect moments or fights or misaligned values. Her response surprised me.
