Customers, investors, and employees alike have varying definitions of what makes a great company culture. However, most people can agree that companies with strong company cultures are more desirable to work for, invest in, and buy from. It’s the “wow” factor of what your business has to offer.
What’s unique about company culture is that it’s something you can’t just throw money at to improve. It takes time, investment, and the right strategy. Here are three tips to help you start building a more positive company culture.
- Know Your Current Culture
Before you can start to build a better company culture, you need to know your current culture. How would you describe it? If you’re not sure, spend some time conducting interviews with employees and customers. You’ll be surprised at how differently they describe the company than how it’s been marketed internally.
When people think of your business, what words come to mind? What is your mission statement, if you have one? Do you have company values or beliefs that everyone lives by? Knowing your culture and aligning it with the outside world is essential in building a better company culture.
- Protect Your Employees
If you want to build a strong company culture, the first thing that you need to do is take care of your employees. They’re your brand ambassadors and their happiness will drive positive word-of-mouth marketing. Offer benefits that support work-life balance and be transparent about issues that could affect morale.
- Hire for Competency and Culture Fit
It’s more expensive to hire the wrong culture-fit candidate than it is to hire a competent one. You’ll have to spend time training the incompetent employee, which will cost you money and productivity. Once you find a qualified person, your company culture can grow around them, and those who aren’t looking for work will also see how great it is to work there.
With the right tools and techniques, businesses can build a company culture that is inclusive, is productive, and promotes employee growth and well-being. Don’t shy away from the hard questions, and take the right steps to invest in company culture-building. Your future will thank you!