Ignoring the Importance of Culture
Please take a moment to review the following three questions:
- How can I get more productivity out of my staff?
- What is the best way to bring a new person up to speed?
- How can I keep a “bad apple” from influencing the rest of the team?
I guarantee you that there are hundreds, if not thousands of books available that deal with each of these topics. In addition, I am certain that most of the solutions discussed in these books are viable and relevant.
However, in the interest of time, I want to make it simple. Here’s the answer to all three questions – Develop a great culture. Although the answer is simple, developing a great culture is difficult and very few companies have managed to pull it off.
So, how do you do it? I recommend a three step process.
- Define your culture. Decide what is really important to your organization and get it down on paper. For a great example of a corporate culture please click here.
- Get Commitment from the Team – Have every member of the team review your culture statement and create a large poster that each team member can sign. Hang this poster somewhere that employees and customers can easily see it.
- Live you Culture – As the owner, it is up to you to reinforce this culture every single day. Refer to your culture in meetings, memos and any other opportunities to have to interact with your staff.
If you are interested in making a lasting and meaningful change in your company, make it priority to invest in your culture. The benefits will be worth the effort.
- Does your culture illustrate the best in your company?
- Do you micro-manage your staff or does you culture reinforce positive efforts and attitudes?
- What if it did?