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Picture a scene where a bunch of people are put into an arena to fight for a limited number of prizes, to claw, scratch, and bite their way to victory no matter what it takes? You probably thought I was talking about American Gladiators. But you’re wrong. I was talking about your workplace. With recession worries bearing down on employees and employers alike, things are about to get crazy in Cubicle-Land (minus some ripped guy in spandex with long permed hair named Diamond).

So how will the recession affect your workplace? It depends on your current culture. Two things are for sure: any existing problems will get worse, and any existing strengths will be tested.

Following is your guide to your workplace’s recession transformation:

1. Competitive – If your workplace is already one of constant one-upmanship and dogged duels, things are about to get much worse. Competitors who have flirted with the line will start to cross it. Co-workers will not hesitate to steal others’ recognition, credit, ideas- heck, I’d even hold onto my wallet if I were you. As companies begin to downsize, yours will become an all-out battle royale for who stays and who goes.

2. Cooperative – You might already be noticing that Fred in Accounting has become a little less friendly as of late. Your weekly cumbaya sessions are not nearly as spirited as they used to be. Even though you’ve known these people for years and even named your firstborn after your manager, you can tell that trust is waning. The "Am-I-Next" feeling pervades the entire premises, and you can’t shake the feeling that Fred is preparing to throw you under the bus.

3. Creative – Say goodbye to shorts and flip flops, Random Experimental Idea Time, and going surfing during the middle of the day. If your company has been letting its employees roam freely, watch for them to call the cattle home and lock the fences. A fierce marketplace and frightened managers will cause companies to crackdown on employee time and productivity. Ironically, this will kill creativity.

4. Drama – If your office already puts Grey’s Anatomy to shame in drama and catfights, you simply will not survive. Start looking for another job, and just be glad you won’t have to work with those people much longer.
 

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Have you ever started a new job and found that you and your co-workers were about as compatible as a fudge brownie in a VHS player? All of your attempts at humor were met by shocked glares and a faint chorus of crickets? All of the company propaganda seemed stupid to you but were gospel truth to everybody else? If so, I have good news: it wasn’t your fault. You were the unsuspecting victim of a culture clash.

No, I don’t mean nation-based cultures, like the ones we usually hear about. I’m talking about company cultures. You see, human beings, when they get into groups, can’t resist creating order. They need to have rules of behavior about what is okay to say, what isn’t, who’s in charge, etc. Over months and years, these rules all create a new culture. As it happens on some desert island in the Indian Ocean so it happens in the workplace.

To a great extent, a company’s culture will make or break your time there as an employee. If your personal culture is in conflict with the company culture, you will likely feel isolated and unappreciated. On the other hand, if your personal matches or complements the company culture, you can navigate the social scene of your office with ease.

How do you know what to look for in a company culture? Of course, part of it is figuring out what your personal culture is. Once you do that, the next step is to identify the culture of the company you are interested in, preferrably before you become an employee there. To help you in both of these steps, I have provided the following list of commonly seen cultures. Most people will find that they are a little of two or three of these. Some will find that they fit squarely in one. Check it out and see where you fit:

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1. Adhocracy – If you know about companies like Google and Pixar, then you may be familiar with this culture. Adhocracies thrive on innovation, creativity, and lack of rules and structure. They tend to come up with the next big thing but at the risk of wasting resources on fruitless ventures.

These companies can be maddening for those who crave routine, order, and stability but great for those who hate such things. If you love looking for the next breakthrough and can’t stand doing the same thing every day, the adhocracy culture is a good fit for you. Alot of tech companies fit into this category.

2. Clan – This culture places its bets on the power of people. Their mantra is "Happy employees make great companies." Therefore, everything in the company revolves around team-building and training. Be ready for lots of trust falls, cheesy handholding activities, and group hugs.

Those who find warm and fuzzy moments to be uncomfortable, and ultimately a waste of time, might want to steer clear of Clan cultures. If you go to work for the people you work with and things you can accomplish together, however, you might just belong in the Clan culture.

3. Heirarchy – These cultures thrive on rules and structure. They gain efficiencies by making things run as mechanically as possible. Power, policies, and processes are all detailed ad nauseum. In fact, a lack of rules, processes, and goals makes Heirarchy people very uncomfortable.

It should be plain to see that Adhocracy people will probably not succeed at a Heirarchy as they are polar opposites. Clan people tend to view Heirarchies as cold and impersonal. Heirarchies are often larger corporations or engineering-based firms.

4. Competitive – The opposite of the Clan culture, Competitive companies value the goal, the win, and performance over the people. Bringing home a victory matters most here. Employees who can’t cut the mustard generally get canned quick. Investment banks, sales companies, and sports teams are good examples of Competitive cultures. Competitive cultures can inadvertently promote cheating (i.e. Enron), backstabbing, and a resistance to cooperation. Whatever it takes to be on top.

Obviously, Clan people are appalled by the sharky ways of the Competitive culture and its narrow focus on results. However, the Competitive culture can be unappealing to Adhocracy folks as well.

Most companies are a combination of two or more of these. The best thing you can do before taking your next job is finding out what kind of culture they have and deciding whether you fit in or not.