Your company’s culture should never fall by the waste-side or be put on the back burner. The decisions you make now and the efforts you invest towards your company’s culture will have lasting effects - so make them count! Here are five tips for a culture change, and how to rock at them.
Tip #1: Assess Your Company and Yourself
Start at the roots of your company - you and your employees. Write down what is already great about the company's culture and what needs improvement. For example, maybe your company is good at communicating, being honest, and working hard, but there is a need for positive energy, team building, and friendliness. Maybe you need to work on some of these items for yourself as well.
How to rock it: Build upon what you already have. Let your employees know what you’re already great at and show them that there is room for improvement, and that you’ll be working together to achieve new goals. This will help employees begin to do self-assessments and will become part of the company’s culture.
Tip #2: Set Goals
Now that you and your employees know what can be improved, set goals for yourself and for your employees. If you set goals, everyone will collectively understand that they have expectations to meet. Show them how to work together to achieve these goals.
How to rock it: Write down your company’s goals for everyone to see. As they are accomplished, check them off. Then, if your budget permits, throw an inexpensive party to celebrate. You can even reward them by instituting a casual Friday, or something similar that will become part of your company’s culture.
Tip #3: Illustrate Your Vision
Your company’s vision should be loud and proud: just like the goals you have set, make sure your vision is up for all to see. Illustrate your company’s vision in the minds of your employees so that they can understand where the company is headed. Use your vision as the rudder of your ship.
How to rock it: Incorporate something fun by having everyone draw, write, or act out what your company’s vision is. Make it fun and full of energy! This will help your employees to remember and use the vision of the company for success. It will lead to a unified culture with one vision.
Tip #4: Be Bold
Don’t be afraid to be bold. Be the first company to incorporate something that becomes part of your culture. Mold your ideas around the type of industry you’re in as well. Ask your employees for ideas and let them know that no idea will be overlooked. You’ll have great ideas to work with, and it will gear your company’s culture towards one that is open-minded and creative.
How to rock it: Exceed your employees expectations. Want culture change? Take your own ideas and the ideas of your employees and come up with something that’ll take them by surprise. If you need to, form a small committee to help you incorporate the ideas.
Tip #5: Invest in the Core of Your Business
Lastly, and importantly, invest your time, energy, and thoughts into the core of your business - your employees and your customers. This can be done by making sure employees and customers feel happy and valued.
How to rock it: One way to invest in your employees is to offer health benefits that match their lifestyle. Your employees’ health should be important to you, and giving them peace of mind will change the way they view the company. For customers, follow up often with a simple “thank you for your business,” or a loyalty program. These investments will lead to a culture of employees and customers that feel valued.
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What are some ways you have made your company culture successful that lead to a culture change? Comment below and join the discussion.
