How do you feel when people are constantly late to meetings and don’t keep promises or speak properly to customers, workers, and suppliers? Wouldn’t you prefer working for a company that shows respect and appreciation for your work, time, and values that are important to you? Most of us would pick the second choice. Unfortunately, many bosses and employees just don’t get it!
A dysfunctional company culture hurts performance and is difficult to change. When employees understand the harsh realities of maintaining the status quo and see the benefits of closing the gap between the real and the ideal, they can be inspired to make the appropriate and effective changes. Having a culture that cares about the happiness and success of its workers, customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders will make the difference in having a successful, profitable company!
So, how can you create a sustainable, winning culture? There are four essential components:
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Vision: A great culture begins with an inspirational statement of what the business would like to accomplish in the short and long term. It communicates the purpose and values of all stakeholders. Employees have direction on how to behave.
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Values: Values are the essence of company culture. They are a collection of shared beliefs and ideals that guide us in how well we serve customers, treat employees, and respect professional standards. You can never go wrong with kindness, honesty, and going beyond what is expected. Promoting collaboration and teamwork helps to share ideas and support camaraderie.
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People: Employees thrive and want to stay in companies where they are given the opportunity to learn and grow. Workers should be allowed to grow their careers and improve their skills. You should ask where they want help. Workers want an environment that values honesty, trust, and helping each other succeed. When workers understand and share the company vision and are empowered to achieve goals, great things can happen!
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Reward performance: Give constructive feedback and praise success. Workers should feel safe in trying to innovate when making decisions to grow the company. Mistakes are treated as part of the learning process. Taking a calculated risk and thinking “out of the box” can make a tremendous difference, whether you grow or fall behind the competition.
Conclusion
Culture is the critical ingredient that binds your organization. Winning cultures produce outstanding results, which creates great challenges for your competitors. It sets your company apart. Your employees have a sense of a core vision, purpose, goals, and values to rally around. They feel a positive sense of community and they feel that they are making a contribution. It is up to us to work together to create a culture that helps to ensure our success.
