If the answer is no, or you are unsure, there is work to be done. Let’s walkthrough why company culture is so important and how you can refine your culture.
Having a strong company culture will make the world of a difference for your company.Though the benefits are countless, here are a few:
- Stronger financial performance
- Elevated productivity
- Higher employee retention
- Open communication between employees
- Desirable brand image
Sounds great, right? In today’s world having a well defined company culture is key for the success of your business. Think of culture like your company’s personality.What kind of personality do you want to have? How do you want employees to describe the personality of the company? How about your customers?
If you want to experience these benefits (and of course you do), then you need to start taking steps to embody the “why” behind your brand. We believe there are two foundational steps to make this happen.
It is critical for your brand to have a core motto or phrase that defines your purpose. This is going to look different for different companies, everyone is and should be unique. Take for example Nike’s mission, to “bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world.” This message is clear and concise, but holds a lot of power. Your company needs its own.
When you have a “why,” you shouldn’t just state it, you should live it. If your brand champions innovation as a core value, that should seep into every aspect of the company. You should have offices that are innovative and unique, hold team meetings in an unconventional way. Employees should feel the “why” every time that they get to work and customers should be able to easily recognize it.Let your culture engulf the entire company. Live out the story that you are selling.
So, are you up for the task? If you don’t already have a “why,” start defining one.Get everyone in on it. If you already have your “why,” are you living it?Implement new ways of doing things if traditional ones don’t align with your purpose. Make sure that all of your stakeholders understand and live out the story you are telling. It may take time and effort, trial and error, but the benefits of embodying your brand will be unmatched.