What is company culture and why should it be important to your business? The answer is simple. Happy employees result in thriving businesses. In recent years, companies like Google have shifted the narrative on traditional corporate culture toward a more fun and relaxed atmosphere. They have capitalized on an employee-focused culture, and the results speak for themselves. The tech empire, founded only 24 years ago, is now worth almost 1.3 trillion dollars.
So what exactly IS company culture?
Company culture is your company’s personality. It is what you build your company foundation from – the ideals, principles, beliefs, and goals. It is the way you choose for your business to operate and how you expect your employees to engage with customers, vendors, and one another. Your company’s mission statement most often reflects your company culture.
I have a mission statement. Does that mean I have a company culture?
Maybe, but not necessarily. Simply because your company’s mission statement is on a piece of paper doesn’t mean that your business’s procedures and actions reflect that statement. Company culture is more than just a statement. It’s made evident by your daily operations and processes and the projects and organizations your business supports. It is supported by the expectations of how interactions between people should happen and how your leaders model those behaviors.
Why is company culture so essential?
Employees who are passionate about what they do and excited to come to work are more productive. Employees who feel valued and appreciated are more loyal to their employers. Employees who enjoy coming to work are more pleasant to engage with co-workers and, most importantly, your customers. Remember, your employees are often the public face of your brand; Happy Employees = Happy Companies.
How do I build a positive company culture?
Everyone has their own ideas about how to build a company’s culture. Each company’s culture will be different, and therefore the best way to create it will be different. However, here are a few great ways that you can start:
- Reduce Stress
Find ways to support your team. Understand what causes them the most headaches in their job and invest in tools, resources, and training to reduce those pain points.. Be flexible where you can. Your employees will find it easier to juggle work and life when they have an understanding employer. Look at the bigger picture. Stress can cause inattention to detail and result in costly mistakes for your business. It is also a significant contributor to health challenges. Stressed employees are more likely to call in sick.
- Invest in Your Employees
Employees who feel important and valued in their role will vest themselves in your company’s success. They can become trusted leaders and managers, which is great for your company and you! Empower your employees by offering training and education. Let them know you appreciate them with increased responsibilities, promotions, and pay raises. Having an employee who is passionate about seeing your company succeed is invaluable.
- Make It Fun
Employees who enjoy being in their work environment will be more productive. Team building exercises are a great way to boost employee morale and build a strong, connected team. Plan parties and events your employees have fun at when attending or find local causes to volunteer at together. A strong company requires solid interpersonal relationships beyond just the business side of an organization.
- Live and Breathe Company Culture
Solid company culture should be deeply rooted in everything relating to the business, and that means you. If you want your employees to “buy in” and represent your company as an extension of you, then it is your responsibility to lead by example. It’s also important to remember that a good leader is a good listener and to remain open to feedback from your employees.
Building a company culture should begin with your mission statement. As the business owner, you are responsible for being the standard of that mission statement. You are also responsible for effectively communicating those standards to your employees and creating an environment that encourages them to adopt your company’s values.
Empowered Leadership helps businesses find freedom through business coaching, executive coaching, assessments, and training. Stacie is an entrepreneur who helps business leaders balance their time to run an effective business and enjoy their life.
Leave a Reply