Not all wealth is tangible, and not all company strengths can be measured on a chart.
In this blog, we’ll break down how to build a stronger workplace culture (step by step), and show examples from companies that live their culture. Whether you're a leader, a team-builder, or just someone who wants Mondays to feel less soul-sapping, you're in the right place.
Let’s make your company culture shimmer!
What exactly is “positive culture” in a workplace?
If we’re completely honest, culture can sound like one of those vague buzzwords that live on company posters, and nowhere else. Yet, when taken seriously, a positive workplace culture actually becomes one of the deepest motivators when times get tough.
A positive workplace culture is one where people feel connected to the bigger picture. It shows up in the way leaders communicate and how teams collaborate under pressure.
The stats back it up, too. We can clearly see the results of positive culture at work through research from Gallup. Companies with strong workplace culture had a 23% higher profitability and 43% lower turnover.
In addition, according to Great Place to Work, companies with a high-trust culture outperform others by up to 50% in productivity, 33% in retention, and 19% in market performance.
These stats certainly aren’t flukes; they are the outcome of positive workplace cultures that support and motivate each and every team member.
In companies with a positive workplace culture, you’ll usually find a few things in common:
- Employees feel safe to speak up
- Wins are celebrated regularly
- People know their work matters
- There’s room for growth (and a little fun, too)
Want your workplace to feel like that? Let’s take a look at some steps you can take to develop a positive workplace culture. We’ll also look at real-world examples of companies whose work culture shines when they need it most.
Steps you can take to develop your workplace culture
Even more than you need beanbags and buzzwords to build a positive culture, you need genuine care and consistency across your workplace.
Below are our tried-and-tested steps you can take to develop morale and make staff proud to show up each day:
1. Prioritise making a safe environment
Before you build anything else, build a sense of safety. There’s no way around it: positive workplace culture only grows in an environment where people can speak up, admit mistakes, or challenge ideas without fear of embarrassment or backlash. When your teams know they’re in a secure place, collaboration flows more smoothly. It creates room for risk-taking and creative thinking that push things forward.
Make sure each person understands that every voice matters, even when it challenges the status quo. Consider holding anonymous Q&As or having “no interruption” policies in meetings when people voice their opinions. A culture where people feel safe to be themselves is one where they’ll give their best, and that safety has to be actively built, not just assumed.
2. Celebrate wins loudly and proudly
Recognition is like caffeine for morale—quick to energise and essential when the pace gets tough. Celebrate team successes, big or small, in ways that feel genuine. That might be a Slack shoutout, a hand-written note, a quirky team award, or a spontaneous round of mocktails on Friday afternoon. The method matters less than the meaning.
The crucial part is consistency. Simply put, when people feel seen for what they contribute, engagement goes up and turnover goes down. Blend these celebrations into your employee recognition program and watch workplace positivity flourish. You’ll be building a feedback loop of motivation and belonging before you know it!
3. Use culture-building games and activities
Want people to bond? Give them something fun (and maybe a little bit silly) to do together. Team games and creative workshops are the perfect arenas for turning coworkers into real teammates. Culture-building activities and games break up routine and create space for collaboration and just the right amount of friendly chaos.
From whiteboard games in meetings to lunchtime trivia or quarterly “office olympics,” these experiences give people a chance to loosen up and develop some inside jokes. And no, it doesn’t need to be expensive or elaborate. The key is regularity and relevance. The more your team genuinely enjoys being around each other, the more naturally your workplace culture strengthens.
4. Make the most of team-building retreats
Nothing bonds people like being away from the office together. Whether it’s an annual getaway or a bi-yearly offsite, retreats offer time to slow down and reconnect, without the distractions of daily deadlines.
At Surf Office, we’ve helped hundreds of teams build stronger cultures in unforgettable locations. From rooftop dinners in Lisbon to paddleboard brainstorms in Croatia, we handle all the logistics so you can focus on what really matters: connection.
Here’s what we offer:
- Stress-free transfers? We got you! ✅
- Quality-assured accommodations? Check! ✅
- Engaging team-building activities? Our speciality ✅
- Restaurant reservations? That's on us! ✅
- Expert retreat planning assistance? Of course, we have this covered! ✅
- On-site support, tailored to your needs? Absolutely ✅
Not only this, but we also have access to 160+ locations around Europe, APAC, the US, Latin America, and now Africa, meaning the sky is your limit when it comes to choosing the right location for you and your team.
5. Be clear about transparency
Transparency is not just a cliche word used to look good in an all-hands meeting. It’s a genuine reflection of solid leadership and a workplace with efficient communication. When your team understands what’s happening and why, they’ll feel more connected to your mission and more willing to ride the waves that come with growth.
This means explaining big decisions before they become whispers, owning up to mistakes from leadership, and asking for feedback you’re prepared to act on. It also means admitting when you don’t have all the answers. Done well, transparency becomes an invitation to join a journey of positivity and prosperity. Your teams will really feel like they’re part of something, not just subject to it.
6. Encourage random acts of kindness
Culture lives in the little things. A surprise coffee. A “you’ve got this” Post-it. Helping someone stay late without being asked. When kindness becomes part of everyday operations, your culture softens and strengthens at the same time.
You can give this a gentle nudge with ideas like kudos boards, kindness challenges, or secret supporter weeks. Keep the focus on making generosity normal. Over time, this creates an atmosphere of mutual care, where people support each other not because they have to, but because it’s who they are as a team. We have a solid list of random acts of kindness at work to plant the seed of positivity in your work culture. Try them out!
7. Hire for culture, not just skills
Hiring someone technically brilliant who doesn’t align with your team culture is like adding a delicate violinist to a rock band. The music might be good, but it won’t be in tune with everyone else.
When hiring, look beyond the CV. Ask what energises them, how they approach collaboration, and how they handle conflict. Use interview formats that reveal character, not just competence. Prioritise a search for humility, curiosity, and shared values, especially when your company’s still growing.
Getting this right early on means less tension later and builds a self-reinforcing loop: culturally aligned staff are more likely to champion and protect the culture themselves. They’ll raise the standard for everyone around them.
8. Create feedback loops that people actually use
Feedback should be less like a fire alarm and more like a thermostat: regular, useful, and safe to engage with. The best cultures build multiple feedback loops, which use formal reviews, pulse surveys, and informal 1:1s where honest opinions are welcomed (not weaponised).
But giving people a voice is just step one. You need to show that voice matters. Share what you’ve learned from feedback, act on what you can, and clearly explain what’s beyond your control. Feedback loops are powerful culture-builders because they tell your team: we’re listening, and we’re evolving alongside each other.
9. Look to the future with team-oriented problem-solving
Positive cultures don’t dwell on blame. They look at the future together, as a single, solid unit. When challenges arise, these cultures thrive when shared ownership and creative thinking are needed. Encourage cross-functional brainstorming, and reward people not just for solutions, but for collaboration. Focus on a team-oriented culture to celebrate progress as a group and reap the rewards of a positive workplace culture.
Shining real-world examples of positive workplace culture
Theory is useful, but sometimes the best way to understand culture is to see it in action. These companies don’t just talk the talk; they are walking into a stronger, more positive workplace culture where employees truly shine.
From well-known names to fast-growing teams who’ve partnered with Surf Office, here are six companies that’ve nailed the culture game:
Patagonia: purpose over profit
Patagonia’s workplace culture is rooted in doing business differently. They’ve been consistent in not shying away from activism, environmental stewardship and a real sense of care. Employees are encouraged to work flexible hours, take part in grassroots campaigns, and even head out on outdoor adventures (all on company time!).
But what really stands out is how much personal values and company values overlap. People don’t just work at Patagonia; they work with Patagonia on causes that matter. The company also donates 1% of sales to environmental groups and famously transferred ownership to a trust that will use all profits to fight climate change.
Aside from the good vibes, they’ve developed good retention as their employees develop a sense of deeper sense of commitment. They keep their mission-first culture, and it attracts people who want their work to mean something beyond a payslip. When functioning at work aligns with personal values, positive workplace culture starts to develop by itself!
VEED: Team bonding with color and creativity
Fast-growing video platform VEED took their vibrant culture to Mallorca—and brought home even more of it. With 123 team members joining a sun-soaked Surf Office retreat, they blended strategy sessions, yoga, sound baths, beach volleyball and rooftop dinners into a full-spectrum experience.
The entire trip was designed to elevate their team spirit, and from the feedback, it truly worked! From cross-department brainstorms to quiet bonding moments under the sun, the retreat brought together a fully remote team in a way no Slack channel could replicate.
VEED’s leadership made culture a visible priority, proving that positive workplaces don’t grow by accident. Post-retreat, the company saw improved morale and a surge of creative momentum. The trip is proof that when culture gets taken seriously (and joyfully), teams return to the workplace more motivated than ever.
Zappos: filled with the weird and wonderful
Zappos famously offers new hires $1,000 to quit, just to ensure those who stay really want to be there. And if that sounds unusual, it’s because Zappos is intentionally a little weird. They’ve built a culture centred on customer service and employee freedom, with themed dress-up days, office parades, and an open-door policy for any idea (no matter how wacky).
What sets Zappos apart is how much they trust their employees to shape the culture. New ideas are encouraged. Autonomy is real. And no one is expected to hide their personality behind a corporate mask.
This leads to high engagement, great customer service and a loyal team that genuinely enjoys coming to work. Culture is part of the product at Zappos, and that’s why it’s so magnetic.
Gong: data-driven and people-positive
At Gong, data and people are a package deal. Known for its sales intelligence platform, Gong applies its core values to internal culture too, starting with real transparency and ownership.
Their “Gongster” shoutouts happen every week, spotlighting wins big and small. Feedback is baked into every layer of the company, and hybrid work is supported with offsite meetups and flexible structures. They want people to be bold, to bring weird ideas, and to know that they’ll be heard.
The company also invests heavily in psychological safety, making it clear that every “Gongster” can speak up without fear. When you mix clear communication with real appreciation, the results are exactly what you’d expect: high performance, low politics, and a workplace that people recommend to their real friends and loved ones.
Hubspot: Culture as a living document
HubSpot doesn’t just talk about culture. They published their Culture Code online for anyone to read, copy or challenge. It’s a bold move, but fitting for a company that builds its culture on transparency and autonomy. They also follow the strong HEART acronym (humble, empathetic, adaptable, remarkable, transparent), and it shows up in their results.
Employees have flexible schedules and the freedom to work from anywhere. Each voice is heard clearly and actually applies to the company’s direction. Learning is prioritised, mental health is taken seriously, and the vibe is refreshingly down-to-earth.
Our favorite belief of theirs is that “Power is gained by sharing knowledge, not hoarding it.” This ethos ripples throughout their onboarding and team rituals. It’s a perfect example of how a well-defined, well-lived culture can evolve with scale, without losing its soul.
SpotifyYou’ve likely heard the phrase “positive workplace culture” used a lot in corporate boardrooms, but how exactly can it be developed to its fullest potential? at its finest
Spotify’s “squad” structure of small, autonomous teams with clear missions has become famous for fuelling innovation. Employees feel a strong sense of ownership within their squads while still connecting to the broader “band” (as they call their company-wide community).
What keeps it all ticking is a steady rhythm of rituals. Teams don’t just work together, they grow together. They use regular retrospectives, show-and-tells, and cross-squad socials that blend work and wellbeing. Even as a global company, Spotify puts effort into creating a cohesive culture that crosses geographical boundaries.
The result is the fact that they’re one of the most well-known brands on the planet. Spotify proves that when people feel safe, seen, and in sync, workplace culture turns into a creative engine.
Notion: Intentional small growth and rituals
Notion isn’t the most well-known company, but its magic stems from how intentionally they organize their team culture. With a small, distributed team, they keep an emphasis on thoughtful onboarding and deep collaboration.
Their workflows are calm and asynchronous, but their connection is never lost. Weekly “show and tells,” gratitude circles, and virtual coffee breaks keep everyone in the loop without clogging the calendar. It’s a culture that values deep focus and deeper respect.
There’s no in-your-face hype here, just a steady hum of pride, purpose, and people doing their best work. Notion proves you don’t need a megaphone to build a culture that resonates. Keep an eye on them in the future!
Salesforce:
Salesforce may be a tech titan, but at its core, it runs on care and a compassionate heart. Their “Ohana” culture (Hawaiian for “family”) centres around trust, inclusion, and giving back. Every employee gets seven paid volunteer days a year. Special care is placed in the company’s DNA through its 1-1-1 model (1% of time, equity and product donated to charitable causes).
But they don’t just give externally, they take care of their own, too. Their focus on equal pay and inclusive leadership has made them one of the most consistently ranked “Best Places to Work.”
Even during growth and global expansion, Salesforce’s culture continues to walk the walk. Their values show up in every aspect of their company policy, and that’s where the real cultural strength lies.
