How does group culture impact your work? Do you feel at home at work or like a stranger in a strange land? At the end of the day do you go home invigorated, or exhausted?

Group culture is created by the combination of behaviors, values, and attitudes. Have you been told, “This is the way we do things around here”? That statement describes culture. It’s the mores, traditions, and the way of life in your workplace.

Not everyone agrees with or easily adjusts to a group culture, yet most feel the pressure to conform. There are many different factors that affect group culture, including leaders’ styles, type of work, historical culture, goals, and mission.

You don’t have to change your personality to succeed in an environment that is at odds with your natural behavior style. But it is important to identify the origins of your culture if you hope to change it or capitalize on its strengths.

For example, suppose the culture at work is one of dominance. You will recognize this culture by noting that decisions are quick, answers direct, and the atmosphere is highly competitive. The majority of people in this culture value solid results and powerful growth.

It is also distinguished by its tendency to discourage hesitation and analysis that slows decisions, as well as behaviors perceived as oversensitive or weak.

A dominance culture can be a dynamic and engaging environment that welcomes innovation and rewards determination and persistence. However, this type of environment is also associated with a high level of tension, power struggles, risk taking, and not much encouragement to work as a team.

Are you comfortable in a business culture where achieving goals is a top priority? Do you find small talk a waste of time? If so, and you are an independent, decisive person that puts a high value on victory, then you may enjoy this culture and embrace its aggressive pace. This could be an ideal place for you to achieve your goals and move your career forward, especially if you believe your desire to win will not only benefit you personally, but will benefit the organization as well. You will be a valuable asset to the organization due to your dedication to details and analyzing consequences.

If you like to talk things through and are more concerned about relationships than results, you may be uncomfortable in a dominance environment. More importantly, you may feel disrespected and your contributions ignored. If you find this type of culture cold and harsh and you go home at night feeling drained, this culture may be stressful.

So how can you leverage your personal strengths to be successful in this environment when it is so different from your own behavior style? One way you can add value to the workplace by being a great listener who can offer a sympathetic ear. These behaviors are appreciated in an environment filled with hard-charging negotiations and constant striving.

Workplace culture is not clear-cut. For example, you may appreciate the high speed in which ideas are implemented and the enthusiasm this dominance environment cultivates, but you may not receive the positive feedback your personality requires. To put it simply, you’re expected to do a great job, period. If that’s the case, find another outlet to get your praise or let your supervisor and team know that praise is important to you and that you like to hear it often.