A challenge that many businesses leaders face is that the desired corporate culture may be easy to articulate however in practice it is often difficult to inculcate within the organisation.

Benefits of a powerful corporate culture include enhanced employee wellbeing, attracting and retaining talent, maximising productivity, and most importantly increased revenue generation as a result of customers positive perception of the company. Unity arises from the shared spirit that holds a team together.

The first step towards creating a winning culture is to identify the type of culture one is trying to create. Set down the culture in words and include the values that represent the ideal culture. The culture should be both positive and empowering and should engender feelings of trust amongst employees. Corporate culture serves as the lens through which employees know how to relate to each other and the outside world and therefor the message must be clear. It may take some time to determine what the ideal corporate culture looks. It is important to consider the size of company, composition of current employees, brand positioning and the industry in which the company operates.

The second step is to communicate the values of the company to internal employees clearly and often. The values of the company should be articulated through words, behaviour, and tangible means.

The final and most important step is to only recruit staff members that exhibit the type of culture that you are trying to create. Certain employees that do not exhibit the desired culture will most likely leave on their own accord. Over time you will be left with a cohesive team that naturally exhibit the company culture.

A company culture is not a static concept that sits on a document in the desk drawer, it needs to be lived by both executives and employees alike. They say that the mind of the leader permutates through the organisation and it is thus vital that those in a position of leadership emulate the key values themselves.

Lastly to quote Peter Drucker –“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”

Author: Ari Ben

2021/08/23