There’s a lot of talk going around about company culture. And you might be wondering why that is so. Sure, it can be a clear indicator of how well your team is cooperating, and it might give you the ability to highlight some of your core values when reaching customers. But is that all? Shouldn’t something so important have a more palpable impact on the way you run your business?
The thing is – it already does, you just might not be aware of it. Company culture has been shown to influence all sorts of factors: from employee productivity to engagement, motivation, and even sales. This means that it should be quite high on your list of priorities.
Below are the biggest reasons why company culture is important, and how to make sure you’re doing everything you can in order to create a positive working environment that will inspire success.
Based on values
Seeing that company culture is based on a set of values, it’s important to define these guiding principles early on. Any company should have a mission statement that will be reflected in key business decisions, but also talent acquisition.
The thing about values and company culture is that a clear set of goals and beliefs allows you to have readily-made, go-to answers to some of the toughest decisions your company might face. Looking for a way to improve your service? Your core values can be a great guiding light. Not sure which of two candidates to hire? Your company culture may give you the answer. Not sure how to act in a difficult situation? Go back to your mission statement and aim to base your actions around it.
The important thing about company culture is that it needs to be enforced, day in and day out. Although we all like to think that we’re doing our absolute best, it’s also easy to be swayed by prospects of easy money or great savings. Unfortunately, these can greatly undermine the image and values we set out for ourselves when getting started.
Culture determines how your team will work
When it comes to quantifiable results of company culture, it’s important that you keep in mind that it hugely affects leadership style and communication. Furthermore, it can also be a source of stress. While all of these constituents are important on their own, bear in mind that they will greatly influence the thing you’re ultimately after: productivity.
For this reason, it’s important that you set clear guidelines on the type of communication you will stand for, and to enforce boundaries whenever necessary. And setting an example is imperative. Practice positive reinforcement, encourage mentorship, reward collaboration, and create team-building opportunities. Yes, they will take more work on your part, but they’ll also eliminate the common dog-eat-dog competitiveness that can easily undermine all your other (however exceptional) results.
Show, don’t tell
When working on developing (or maintaining) a company culture, you must put your money where your mouth is, both figuratively and literally. You will need to work hard to create opportunities for communication and collaboration, but rest assured that they’ll be appreciated and beneficial in the long run.
Simple things, such as starting the day with a meeting over a good cup of coffee can help build a sense of community, and even get everyone’s creative juices flowing. Gamification or learning opportunities can further encourage a positive approach to work. Even company swag or team building activities can have a hugely beneficial influence on job satisfaction.
Finally, don’t forget about rewarding work that is well done. Keep in mind that acknowledgment and praise, or the opportunity to progress can sometimes mean much more than a simple bonus. After all, your company is only as strong as your employees, so keeping them happy, motivated, and challenged is a big step towards a positive company culture.
Bottom line
In the end, the company culture you decide to nurture within your business will largely depend on your line of work. There’s no way we can expect a bank to operate in the same way as an art institution or a tech startup.
But being intentional with the values you choose to promote and the ones you decide to discourage will, indeed, have a big impact on your results. So make sure you’re not neglecting culture. Although it might take some extra effort on your part, in the end, it will be the thing that will allow you to enjoy the fruits of your hard work.
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