5 Ways to Build a Company Culture That Employees Love
An organization with a strong culture can withstand the toughest challenges.
Few people gave the San Antonio Spurs a chance this season when they lost a generational talent in Kawhi Leonard. Despite projections showing that this might be the season that the Spurs will miss the playoffs, they’ve turned it around and are still in the mix.
The Spurs have maintained excellence throughout the years because of their company culture. Twenty-one straight playoff appearances, five championships, and stability even after losing superstars show the resilience of an organization with a solid foundation.
What are the elements of a great culture? Let’s look at five things that affect the culture of your company.
1. It Starts at the Top
Culture doesn’t develop without strong leadership. The person steering the organization doesn’t just preach about culture. One can’t just hand out memos or put up posters and call it a day.
True leaders live the culture.
The chief embodies the core values of the company. Virtues such as honesty, integrity, and dedication are emulated by the employees.
The trickle-down aspect of culture can also propagate negative behavior. One example is the reported culture of sexism at Riot Games. There were numerous claims that the COO of Riot often participates in questionable behavior. These include “ball-tapping,” humping, or farting on employees for comedic effect.
Whether good or bad, the culture of the company begins with the leader.
2. Gather the Right People
“We’re looking for people, and I’ve said it many times, [who] have gotten over themselves.” Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich knows what he wants from people he’s looking to hire, whether the players or staff.
They need to be the right fit because after all, culture has always been about the people.
You want people who’ll buy into your culture. This isn’t something that you can train them to do.
From the start, they’ve got to have the right attitude and disposition to believe the values that your company holds dear.
3. Company Culture Is About Teamwork
No one is a star, and no one should be a diva. Everyone should work together to accomplish their goals.
Leaders have to check their ego at the door. Flexibility is a quality that all good leaders must possess. They need to listen and value the suggestions of their workforce.
If everyone works as a team then everyone will feel that they belong.
4. Give Timely Encouragement
“I can live for two months on a good compliment” is a famous quote by Mark Twain.
Praise is a powerful tool to boost self-esteem and increase the performance and efficiency of your workers. Recognition for hard work and effort is one of the true joys of working.
Some words of encouragement is also a big dose of adrenaline for those who struggle with their goals. Knowing that the company will always have your back connects them deeper to your business culture.
5. Not Everything Is About the Job
Your team is made up of humans, not robots. Building personal connections, human connections, is the essence of culture.
Find ways to engage with each other outside of work. Try to know each other as people and not as co-workers. The bonds created will further strengthen the culture of your company.
Culture Is the Cement
The company culture connects people to each other to achieve something extraordinary. As the links increase and get stronger, your company will be unassailable and will always keep its keen edge.
Establishing connections is impossible without good communication. As such, having a reliable and efficient business chat module is important. Learn more about this topic by reading this article.
