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Corporate culture is the set of values, beliefs, and actions that make up a company. It is what gives an organization its distinctive personality, beyond the services or products it offers.

HR strategies involve planning and executing human resource management practices that support an organization's or business's goals and objectives.

The impact of HR strategies on corporate culture is therefore significant, as human resources are a real driving force in maintaining or evolving corporate culture. Here are six ways in which these strategies shape or reinforce corporate culture.

1. Attract the Right Talent

It’s the foundation. However strong a corporate culture may be in theory, it’s the people who bring it to life. Therefore, it's fundamental to choose candidates whose values match those of the company.

In addition to the choice of candidates, the recruitment process is an excellent window into corporate culture. A transparent process that promotes diversity and inclusion is essential if these values are important to the organization. Sometimes, it’s worth outsourcing recruitment to experts.

Over and above technical capabilities, human resources can ensure that a diverse team is hired, both in terms of backgrounds and soft skills.

2. Educate New Employees About Corporate Culture

Human resources are often the first contact a person has with a company, in addition to its public image. First impressions are important and will shape a candidate’s perception of the organization.

Training and follow-up with new employees are also privileged moments to make them aware of corporate culture. Beyond workflows, communication channels, and other systems, the company’s values are also important elements to demonstrate to new employees.

3. Promote Corporate Culture In-house

Human resources are the ideal vehicle for promoting corporate culture on an ongoing basis. Of course, all aspects of recruitment and working conditions need to be consistent with the company’s culture. For example, if a company values its employees’ independence and freedom, we might expect flexible working hours or a work-from-home policy.

HR strategies can go further to promote employee engagement and corporate culture. In practical terms, this can be reflected in a variety of activities, such as mentoring, a space for informal dialogue, or even fun activities. A system of rewarding or highlighting employees’ efforts is also a technique that is often appreciated.

There’s no magic formula here, as everything depends on the culture of the company and its employees. The important thing is to establish systems or activities that will strengthen team symbiosis and reinforce the corporate culture.

4. Evaluate Team Commitment

One of Human Resources’ mandates is to oversee s assessment. In addition to evaluating work and performance, it can be very useful to assess employees’ ways of doing things and their values in order to get a clear idea of the company’s culture.

HR can provide management with valuable information on potential successes and challenges. If there is a discrepancy between the company’s culture in theory and how it is lived in the office, an action plan can be drawn up. For example, human resources may notice that environmental policies are not applied by everyone, and may suggest new communication tools or training.

5. Adjusting Practices to New Realities

Having a solid corporate culture doesn’t mean being static and immutable. Quite the contrary! Culture must be able to adapt to new realities, and human resources can support management in this.

A simple example is the arrival of new generations in the job market. There are huge differences between baby boomers, generation X, millennials and Generation Z. Each generation has its own way of doing things, its own values, expectations and needs. To attract the best candidates, from generation to generation, you need to know how to adapt. What worked 30 years ago in an office won’t work forever, and human resources know this.

Keeping an eye on market trends can also help shape corporate culture and HR practices. In addition to generational changes and technological advances, there are trends influencing workplaces that can have a significant impact. The implementation of a hybrid work mode is a good example. This often highly appreciated work mode doesn’t work in all companies and sometimes undermines corporate culture. In other cases, the opposite is true, as this flexibility allows employees to be happier and more committed. In this specific example, human resources can help management shape a telecommuting policy that works well or find alternatives that will appeal to the team.

6. Ensuring Coherent Future Leadership

Company leadership is also fundamental to the organization’s culture. And human resources play a key role when it comes to finding replacements or additional leaders. They know the teams well, the strengths of each individual and the people with natural leadership qualities. They can therefore identify potential candidates in advance. For the company’s culture, this means identifying candidates who are consistent with the current culture, or who are apt to move the culture in a desired direction.

HR Strategies: The Foundation of a Thriving Corporate Culture

HR plays a vital role in bridging the gap between management and employees, ensuring that corporate culture is not just a concept but a lived experience. By implementing thoughtful strategies, human resources foster open communication, strengthen team cohesion, and drive continuous improvement.

A well-defined approach doesn’t just support company values—it actively shapes a workplace where employees feel engaged, motivated, and aligned with the organization’s vision. Investing in human resource strategies today lays the foundation for a thriving, adaptable, and resilient corporate culture for the future.