Company culture is a hot conversation topic these days and more companies are taking it seriously. But why is company culture so important and how does an organization define its culture?
Ultimately company culture can make or break an organization – it’s that important.
Simply put, company culture directly impacts the bottom line. With your talent, plus prospective talent, in the drivers seat it is ever so important to have a positive company culture which employees enjoy coming to work each day. Positive company culture leads to high employee satisfaction, loyalty and productivity, which directly impacts customer satisfaction and loyalty, more importantly, profit and revenue growth. Needless to say, negative or no company culture leaves your talent feeling disconnected from your company, he or she is more likely to seek out another opportunity costing your company valuable time and money.
Is it worth making the effort to create a well-defined and groomed company culture which can lead to happier and more productive employees, increase retention, attract the best talent and ultimately increase profitability? YES, and below you’ll find a few tips to help you define, and contribute to, your company’s culture.
Not sure where to start? Be inquisitive.
Ask questions and observe behavior. Simple behaviors such as whether an employee stays late or arrives early can show not only the level of commitment but also overall happiness.
Know your audience.
What do your clients want? Help employees understand what their top priorities should be in order to fulfill your clients wants and needs while maintaining brand value.
Be open about expectations.
Employees need to know performance expectations to function appropriately and efficiently. Hold regular performance reviews (informal or formal) and offer new training or certification.
Work standards.
Do you have project deadlines that often require long hours at the office? Think about what options and incentives you can give your employees to make shifting schedules easier for them such as offering paid-time-off accrual or flex time, bringing dinner into the office, or helping with services such as dry cleaning.
Decide what kind of communication style works for your business.
Are formal memos and e-mails required or is face-to-face communication better?
Find a story or ceremony that highlights your company’s ideals, values, and mission, and repeat it.
A yearly performance award named after an integral member of the company is a great start but ongoing and less formal ceremonies and stories can be just as effective. Is client satisfaction your top priority? Then recognize employees when they make an extra effort with a client and repeat the story in formal and informal settings.
Optimize financial rewards & other benefits.
Financial rewards reinforce your cultural standards and upgrading your benefits clearly signals that a company values its employees. Many firms are taking a look at their compensation plans and increasing employee’s salaries across the board. Invest in your talent by offering onsite training and other continuing education options, offering flex time, perks and focusing on mentorship.
Don’t forget the power of the thank you.
It’s pretty straightforward, say thank you to your employees when they’ve done a good job – not only at large events or meetings but whenever you notice actions that warrant a pat on the back.
Find your trendsetter.
Don’t underestimate the power of positive morale or peer pressure. Find the person or group within your organization that others naturally follow and garner their help in developing a positive culture.
Need a fresh start?
Think about a new company logo. Something simple, original and easy to remember. What do you think of when you see a silhouette of an apple with a bite taken out of it? Exactly.
No matter what always remember that ‘actions speak louder than words.’
Once you define your culture, follow-through with it every day through your actions; fellow employees will respect and appreciate you for it. What has your company done to improve it’s company culture? We’d love to hear.
For this and more tips, be sure to stay up to date with The Post – Interior Talent’s blog.