What is the driving force behind exceptional organizations? Their company culture. Business is competitive and it is no longer enough for an organization to solely focus on their bottom line. The modern workforce is looking for more than a paycheck; it craves an environment that nurtures personal growth, meaningful connections and a sense of belonging. As a result, company culture has taken center stage as a crucial element in attracting and retaining top talent, fostering innovation and building a resilient organization.
What Does Company Culture Mean?
Company culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that characterize an organization, and encompasses the overall personality and identity of a company. A strong company culture aligns employees with a common purpose and generates a positive work environment, setting the tone for how individuals and teams collaborate, communicate and solve problems. It offers:
- Strong values and a clear mission
- Open and transparent communication channels
- Respect and inclusivity
- Empowerment and autonomy
- Continuous learning and development
- Work-life balance
- Recognition and appreciation
On the other hand, a bad company culture can hinder employee satisfaction, well-being and the organization’s success. Indications of a bad company culture can include:
- Confusion, mistrust and disconnection
- Toxic behavior such as bullying, discrimination or harassment
- Micromanagement
- High turnover and low morale
- Resistance to change and innovation
- Overworked and stressed employees; burnout
- Demotivating and demoralizing environment where individuals feel undervalued
How Company Culture Impacts your Business
Your company culture has a profound impact on your business in several ways. First, a positive culture fosters a sense of belonging, purpose and motivation, leading to increased job satisfaction and higher engagement levels. Engaged employees are committed to their work and willing to go the extra mile to deliver exceptional results.
Second, in a competitive job market, prospective employees seek organizations with values and a culture that aligns with their own. It is a strong and appealing magnet for talented individuals who can give a company a competitive advantage.
Third, culture influences the customer experience. When employees are happy and engaged, they are more likely to go above and beyond to meet the customers’ needs, deliver exceptional service and build lasting relationships. These happy customers become loyal advocates.
Fourth, a company’s culture impacts it reputation and brand image. Good or bad news about it can spread quickly in today’s interconnected world. A strong brand, built on a positive culture, can lead to increased opportunities and market credibility.
Related: How Company Culture Shapes Employee Motivation
Working with Different Value Sets and Diversity
While it may seem counterintuitive, embracing diverse values can lead to a more robust and innovative work environment. When individuals with different perspectives, backgrounds and value systems come together, it generates a culture of creativity, critical thinking and problem solving. Their diverse perspectives and deeper understanding of different customer needs and cultural contexts can help avoid groupthink and challenge conventional practices, leading to more innovative solutions and approaches—and a competitive edge in a changing marketplace.
Related: Diversity wins – How inclusion matters, a McKinsey & Co report
How? While respecting your own company value system, create opportunities for those of different ethnic backgrounds and generations to contribute, lead and thrive. Provide cultural training programs and cross-cultural mentorship initiatives, and establish Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that cater to specific ethnicities or generations. By embracing the differences, you can harness the power of diversity, promote innovation and construct a more inclusive and enriching work environment where your employees feel respected, understood and supported.
The Best Ways to Manage a Positive Company Culture During Organic Growth or Acquisition
Managing company culture during periods of organic growth or acquisition can present unique challenges. However, with careful planning, thoughtful execution, and continuous communication and feedback, it can be done.
As your company expands through organic growth, work to preserve and reinforce the existing culture by clearly articulating and consistently communicating the company’s values, mission and vision to all employees. Lead by example and embody the desired culture. Seek feedback and involve employees in shaping the culture to give them a sense of ownership and commitment.
During acquisitions, merging cultures from different organizations requires a delicate balance of integration and respect for each company’s culture. Look at the similarities, differences and areas of potential synergy and involve key stakeholders from each side to build trust. Form cross-functional teams to collaborate on important decisions, align on common goals, and design shared rituals and practices. Invest in training sessions, workshops and team-building activities to create relationships and a shared sense of purpose. Provide mentorship programs, collaborative projects or cross-functional initiatives. More acquisitions fail due to mismanagement of merged cultures than any problems with business plans or growth targets.
Create Agreement on Company Culture
Coming up with an agreement on company culture requires a collaborative and inclusive approach that engages employees at all levels. Use these steps to facilitate development of a shared culture agreement, and don’t be afraid to engage outside help:
- Assess the existing culture through surveys, interviews, focus groups or audits to understand values, norms and behaviors.
- Define foundational core values and encourage open dialogue and respect for diverse viewpoints. Narrow down the list.
- Establish cultural behaviors based on the core values list. Show how they can work in day-to-day interactions.
- Create opportunities for employees to review and provide input through meetings, focus groups or online platforms. Strive for a shared understanding and agreement.
- Communicate the agreed-upon culture clearly, consistently and repeatedly through meetings, newsletters or intranet platforms. Emphasize its importance and alignment with the company mission and goals.
- Embed the culture into recruitment and selection processes, performance reviews, training and development programs, and reward and recognition processes. Regularly recognize employees who embody the desired behaviors.
- Monitor and modify where necessary.
Maintain Your Company Culture
To maintain your company culture, set up proactive and ongoing efforts. Leaders are in the best position to support the culture by consistently modeling the values and behaviors. Regular and transparent communication is key. Finally, incorporating the desired culture into all aspects of an employee’s lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding, to training performance evaluations and promotions, will ensure its perpetuation inside the organization.
Likewise, continuous reinforcement and recognition are crucial to maintaining alignment. Regularly acknowledge and reward employees who embody and contribute to the desired culture. Share successes and stories, and create rituals and traditions.
Lastly, establish mechanisms for cultural feedback and assessment. Periodically gauge the current state and identify gaps or areas for improvement.
Maintaining a company culture requires consistent leadership commitment, effective communication, integration into employee lifecycle processes, reinforcement and recognition, feedback mechanisms, and alignment with organizational systems. By consistently prioritizing and investing in the culture, your organization can help ensure its enduring presence and positive impact on the company’s success.
The Association for Enterprise Growth Can Help Business Owners Create a Positive Company Culture
The Association for Enterprise Growth (AEG) is a valuable resource for business owners seeking assistance in creating a company culture. We do this through knowledge and education; access to resources and tools; networking and collaboration opportunities; mentorship and coaching, and expert advice and consulting.
Contact AEG for more information about our Elite Advisors, Inner Circle peer groups or sponsorship opportunities.