Metaphors at Work: What Language Reveals About Organisational Culture

Have you ever stopped to wonder why we say things like “I’m just a cog in the machine” or “we’re on the front lines”? These aren’t just throwaway phrases—they're windows into how we see the world around us, especially the workplace.

Here is how the metaphors we use every day are not random or poetic flourishes, but reflections of deep-seated cognitive patterns. And in a workplace context, they may just be the most honest insights we’ll ever get.

The Science Beneath the Surface

The foundational text Metaphors We Live By (George Lakoff & Mark Johnson) argues that metaphors shape how we think, not just how we talk. These conceptual metaphors are deeply embedded—so much so that many originate in our evolutionary past.

Take the colour red. It triggers alarm—think red flags, stop signs, and even the phrase "seeing red." This primal response may stem from our earliest survival instincts: blood signals danger. Our brain’s basal ganglia—the so-called “lizard brain”—processes threats faster than our conscious mind can think. So when we say something is a “red flag,” we’re not just being poetic; we’re expressing an ancient survival cue.

Orientation Metaphors and Emotional Anchors

Language is filled with directional metaphors: “on top of the world,” “feeling down,” “things are looking up.” Why is up good and down bad?

One explanation lies in developmental experiences. Being “picked up” as a baby equates to safety and warmth, while being “put down” can symbolise separation. Likewise, a container filling up (with food or drink) means abundance—hence “fill up your calendar” or “he’s full of ideas.”

These associations aren’t learned from books—they’re felt, and then expressed unconsciously.

The Organisational Metaphor Lens

When employees describe the company they work for, they're rarely crafting metaphors from scratch. Instead, their language points to underlying perceptions. And here’s the key: those metaphors often reveal more truth than a formal employee survey.

Let’s look at a few common metaphorical frames:

Understanding the prevailing metaphor in your business can shape how you communicate, motivate, and build trust. For example, a sales team that sees itself as “on the battlefield” might respond better to bold, competitive targets—while a team that values “family” might recoil from war language but thrive on inclusion and shared purpose.

Akumen in Action

Specialist Organisational Development tools developed by Akumen can help surface the metaphors people are using about their workplace. Because these metaphors are drawn from the “lizard brain,” they’re often raw and unfiltered—making them incredibly valuable for anyone looking to improve culture and connection.

Using metaphor analysis, organisations can:

• Identify cultural alignment or dissonance

• Reframe internal comms to match or gently shift perception

• Design change programmes that feel authentic and intuitive

  
  

Final Thought

Metaphors aren’t just linguistic decoration—they’re clues. Clues to what people truly value, fear, and believe. So, the next time someone says your strategy is “off track” or that they feel “weighed down,” listen closely. There might be more truth in that than any multi choice survey could ever deliver.

What types of Metaphors do you use to describe your workplace? Tell us in the comments!