Let’s talk about culture — not the fresh fruit, beanbags-and-birthday-cake kind, but the real, gritty stuff. The kind that affects whether people stay or go, thrive or burn out, speak up or shut down.
At Claireity, we help businesses move from chaos to clarity, and culture is usually the first thing tangled in that chaos. Here are five of the biggest culture blockers we see again and again (and what you can do about them):
1. No One Knows What “Good” Looks Like
You say you value “collaboration” or “innovation” — but what does that actually mean? If your team can’t describe how those values show up day-to-day, they become fancy wallpaper instead of guiding principles.
Fix it: Define behaviours, not buzzwords. Make it clear what your culture feels like when it’s working — and when it’s not. And be honest about it.
2. Leaders Don’t Role Model the Culture
You can plaster values all over your intranet, but if your senior team doesn’t live them, neither will anyone else. Culture starts at the top — but it echoes everywhere.
Fix it: Start with leadership. Get real about what’s being role-modelled and where the gaps are. (Hint: people notice everything.) If they aren’t on side, find out why. Collaboration can spark improvement — and culture is everyone’s job.
3. You’ve Confused Perks with Culture
Ping-pong tables are nice. So are early finishes and Slack emojis. But true culture runs deeper — it’s how decisions are made, how feedback is given, how people treat each other on a bad day.
For me, the best team is the one that will pitch in at 8pm on a Tuesday just to help out. They do this not because they have to, but because they care.
Fix it: Stop outsourcing culture to perks. Instead, invest in communication, leadership habits, and trust.
4. There’s No Psychological Safety
If people don’t feel safe to speak up, question things, or admit mistakes, your culture isn’t working — it’s surviving. And it won’t survive long.
Fix it: Build trust through consistency, fairness, and genuine listening. Create spaces where people feel heard — and where speaking up doesn’t come with fear attached. That’s where the magic happens.
5. You’ve Scaled, But Your Culture Hasn’t
Startups often have culture by accident — built by proximity, banter, and late-night pizza. But when you grow, things break. And if you don’t evolve your culture intentionally, it becomes chaotic or cliquey.
Fix it: Revisit your values, communication norms, and rituals. What worked at 10 people won’t work at 100. Culture can scale — but only if you let it grow with you.
Ready to Fix It?
Culture isn’t a one-time project. It’s an ongoing practice — and it’s messy, human, and 100% worth getting right.
Whether your culture’s quietly creaking or full-on on fire, Claireity helps purpose-led businesses untangle the mess and build something that actually makes sense.
Let’s chat.
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📞✨ Call me on +44 (0) 7812 007182 or
📨 claire@claireity.co.uk — you choose, I’m easy.
Claireity 
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