How is your company culture?
The importance of a strong and positive company culture can’t be overstated. According to positivepsychology.com, leading business publications have seen references to the word “culture” jump to more than two million annually.
And a Forbes Advisor article observes that 67% of executives prioritize company culture over their organization’s strategy or operating models. So, it’s widely regarded as important.
”Culture” may be one of those buzzwords that you hear at seminars and presentations, or at company staff meetings. But it’s much more than simply a buzzword. Culture is a value that sets your company apart. Culture encompasses many components – a company’s values, its mission and guiding principles, attitudes, practices and so much more. Culture goes beyond the parking lot cookouts, dress-down Fridays, softball or bowling games, and trivia contests. Those may be outward manifestations of a company culture, but culture encompasses much more.
Some have characterized culture as “the glue that holds your company together” or the “secret recipe” for success.
A positive, strong, authentic company culture is important for a business. Your employees – and prospective ones – will take notice. Employees increasingly want to feel good about where they work. They don’t want “just a job,” but rather to be part of an organization that does good work and takes pride in its work. Companies with strong, positive cultures are attractive to prospective employees. And in the competition for talent, that’s important!
A Harvard Business Review article notes that, conversely, a high-pressure, cut-throat, “take no prisoners” culture is harmful to productivity over time. But a positive environment can be of dramatic benefits for employers, employees, and the bottom line.
What Makes Up Good Company Culture?
Some of the characteristics of a company with a strong culture include:
- An environment where employees are treated with respect and value, and where they feel heard and appreciated
- An atmosphere of open and effective communication
- An environment where the work of employees, and their ideas, truly matter
- An environment where people live out their core values
- An organization where management leads by example
- A company that encourages work-life balance
- A business where employees are encouraged to continue professional and personal growth
- A company that constantly seeks to better itself through self-evaluation and improvement as needed
David St. Peter, President of the Minnesota Twins, speaks of four pillars of a team culture as including fun, passion, heart, and hustle. Much of the same can be said of businesses, because in companies where the culture is strong and positive, people act as part of a team.
Benefits of Positive Company Culture
A positive and strong company culture can mean less turnover, less internal strife, greater engagement among employees who feel they are all working together for a common goal, reduced need for ongoing recruitment due to lesser turnover, and a reputation as a “best place to work.” The last one can be very helpful in recruiting new talent for an organization.
Speaking of which, we at Pulse Technology are very proud to have been named as a "Best Place to Work in IL" by Workforce Research Group and the Daily Herald for four years in a row. The process includes surveys and feedback from employees. We have built our company on the belief that our greatest assets are our customers and our employees.
A strong and positive culture is a key to your company’s future success. It will result in higher employee engagement, greater productivity, and in return greater customer loyalty. And a company perceived to have a positive and strong culture will do much better in attracting additional top-level talent to its organization.
Creating a Strong Company Culture
How can you, as a company owner, build a strong company culture?
- Clearly define your company’s mission, vision, and values. This is a step that should definitely involve as many people within the organization as is feasible. This can be achieved by a retreat, possibly, or on-site brainstorming sessions.
- “Walk the walk.” Leaders lead by example. A strong leader sets the tone for others to follow.
- Practice transparency in decision-making and be open and inclusive where your employees are.
- Empower your employees to advance professionally. Offer leadership training and training in their areas of expertise. Establish a mentorship program – these can go a long way toward making new employees feel welcome and become productive.
- Set up a way to acknowledge employee contributions. Whether that’s an “Employee of the Month” or other such recognition, make your employees feel appreciated for what they do.
- Establish your own culture committee, made up of people from your company – workers and managers. Encourage open and honest discussion centered around “What are we doing right” and “What can we do better?” To that end, another great way to learn what your employees think is through surveys – anonymous if you like.
- In hiring, elevate the importance of culture in the interview process. Look at a potential hire not only in terms of this person’s background, but will he or she be a good fit within the organization? You can train the right person. Sometimes the person with the most impressive resume may not be the best fit.
- Encourage teamwork – in and out of the office.
- Create a positive physical work environment. Is your office space appealing? Are the workstations suited for collaboration? Is there a break room for employees? Is the office a place you are proud to show off to customers? Investing in the office space is a good investment in your employees’ well-being.
If you have questions or thoughts about company culture, we’re here to discuss them with you. And the same goes for any of the services that we offer – from IT support to Managed Print Services, video walls, and more. If you are ready to take your business, school, public safety department, or financial institution to the next level, contact us now to learn how we can help. Contact Us Today!
