Corporate culture is the ties that bind your team or business together as one, cohesive unit. When everyone’s values, attitudes and beliefs are in congruence, the result is a strong, thriving team. In order to achieve this, there are several strategies that you can employ in your workplace. Below you will find just a few:
Have a Clear Brand and Vision
There’s absolutely no point in moaning about the lack of a unified culture in your workplace if there is no clarity. Are you, yourself sure about what you value most? If the answer is no or you think your priorities may have changed, take the time to write an ordered list. When you think of the world’s most successful brands, you’ll notice they have a clear mission or slant that is often conveyed through a slogan. Examples include Subway’s Eat Fresh, Nokia’s Connecting People and Porsche’s There is No Substitute. Your employees need to be able to identify with and ideally love your brand.
From Top to Bottom
Now that you have a defined set of goals and beliefs, it’s time to preach and spread the love. Make sure that everyone gets on board, starting with managers and HR staff. The message should then trickle down to all the employees. A great way to sustain and strengthen your ideal corporate culture is through leading by example. If you want everyone to be relaxed, fun and innovative, you may confuse your employees by wearing a business suit to work each day and enforcing strict rules. Ron Bakir and Ricardo Semler are two examples of leaders who are role models for their employees.
Hire Like-Minded Individuals
So now you have a great team of employees and the culture is thriving. Another way to ensure that this success is maintained is by hiring individuals who will be a great fit for your team. Resist the temptation to hire based solely on qualifications and/or experience. Instead, share your visions and values and get their feedback. You should be able to differentiate between genuine candidates and those that are saying what you want to hear. This is why it is very important to ensure that your HR staff have a solid understanding of what the company is about.
Enforce a Dress Code
Another point to consider is the physical presentation of your employees. If you are a client-facing business and you want to be regarded as professional, it’s probably not a good idea to have a lax dress code where employees wear jeans to work. By enforcing or clarifying dress requirements, you will be reaffirming the general approach or slant of your business and this will avoid any conflicts or confusion amongst your employees. Motorola under Bob Galvin’s leadership is a prime example; he often dressed casually and encouraged participation from all levels.
Whether it’s reaching the masses through a slogan or leading by example like Ron Bakir, there are ways to connect with your employees that result in a strong, unified corporate culture. Do you have anything to add to the discussion? Perhaps a strategy that has worked for you in the past? Let us know by commenting below.