Company Culture: Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Marcianne Kuethen

Updated June 18, 2026

Have you ever gotten–or given–an impression of an organization only to realize that the impression didn’t reflect the truth of its day-to-day reality? As a candidate, it can be so disillusioning to take a job expecting a certain vibe, only to learn that what you were told about the company’s culture was all empty talk. As a company leader, few things will undermine morale more quickly than expressing your values, then contradicting them. When it comes to company culture, actions speak louder than words.

True Examples of Mixed Messages about Company Culture

To explain what I mean, here are a few true scenarios that illustrate this concept (with names and details changed to protect anonymity):

• Sam works for a company that claims to value ethical behavior. But after Sam had a bad performance week, his regional manager retaliated by withholding one of Sam’s commissions to “motivate him to work harder.”
• Chelsea encourages her employees to act more autonomously, take initiative, and figure out things for themselves. Yet she maintains an open-door policy so they can seek her advice on any problems that arise, and she gets too involved in the details of their daily issues.
• Marge was hired with the promise of a supportive team environment. But once she received her orientation tour, she discovered she was on her own without training, mentoring, or the help of her coworkers.
• John’s employer expects its workers to practically bleed for the company, demanding that they stay late, forego doctor visits, and skip lunch to meet their quotas and get the work done. Yet the company’s internet slows down or fails almost daily, sabotaging John’s efforts. He feels as if the leadership team is not equipping him with the technology to accomplish the ambitious goals they’ve set.

Find a Company Culture That Will Contribute to Your Success

Candidates, when you’re looking for a job, are you concerned about fitting the culture as well as the job’s qualifications? You should be concerned, advises Beth Taylor of PayScale.com. Why? A strong company culture that offers consistent codes of behavior makes it “easier to do your job because you know what is expected of you, and this leads to greater job satisfaction. To find out what it’s like to work at a company, do your research. Ask the right questions during the interview process, and don’t confine your investigations to the hiring manager.” Taylor suggests speaking to prospective coworkers to ask what they like and dislike most about their job to learn more about the company’s culture.

Match Your Company’s Messaging with Its Behavior

Employers, have you stopped to wonder what mixed messages you may be sending within your organization? If you’ve written a document that defines your company culture, are you unintentionally enforcing any unwritten rules that clash with what you claim to value? And when you interview candidates, are you careful to select only those who fit with your company’s culture? “Employees are also most likely to enjoy job satisfaction when their own values match with the values in the company culture,” says Taylor. “This creates a sense of belonging to a team with common goals.”

Be Intentional About Company Culture

If you’re a candidate seeking employment, be persistent. Ask questions in your interview until you have an accurate picture of the company culture. A poor cultural fit can cause job failure just as much as a person’s lack of ability to do the job.

If you’re a leader, it takes time and thought to build a strong company culture. Actions speak louder than words, so take the time to evaluate the message that’s being sent. If you’re saying one thing but acting out another, make the necessary changes to build a consistent code of conduct. Remember, your employees’ satisfaction and success depend on it!

Marcianne Kuethen

Marcianne Kuethen is a Senior Writer at Amtec, where she has written over 700 blog posts in the past 18 years. Her family has led the company across three generations, from her father who founded Amtec in 1959 to her son Barrett who serves as President and CEO today. Outside of writing, she makes art, music, and gardens.