The end of the weekend and the start of the work week, i.e., Monday is a dreaded time for most employed individuals. If you’re like most working people then, you probably yearn for Monday, Tuesday or any other day that isn’t the weekend to end quickly. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Since employees spend more than 40 hours at the workplace each week, companies must ensure the right environment and company culture for their employees or risk a high turnover!
Every company has its own unique feel. For example, Apple and Best Buy fulfill similar needs such as selling electronics and computer yet both offer a completely different buyer’s experience. The feeling you get in an Apple store is completely different to the feel in a Best Buy outlet and this is not co-incidental. Instead, it is the result of a carefully thought-out corporate culture. And, this applies not just to these two companies, but to every organization out there including large-scale manufacturers, restaurants, hospitals, law firms and more. If there is a company, then it must have a company culture.
Company culture is a made of the working environment, the way things are done at the company and the people working there. The company culture affects several aspects of the business including talent acquisition and staff retention, and the reputation of the brand in the industry and amongst the masses.
Often, job satisfaction is largely dependent on the company culture and if an employee doesn’t like their company’s work environment and working style, then It won’t be long before they hand in their resignation letter. For this reason, it is essential for businesses to build a company culture that attracts the desired talent and ensures the retention and motivation of the existing employees. While the right company culture varies based on the type and size company and the demographics of its desired employees, there are a few essentials of a company culture that every organization out there should consider.
Have a Company Culture and Hire People Who Fit It
This is a no-brainer. While a person may look like the perfect candidate on paper—having the required experience and qualifications, he may not excel at the company just because she/he doesn’t fit into the company culture. On the other hand, if hired, a person who doesn’t meet all the experience or educational requirements of a job, may do extraordinary well at a company just because she/he is an excellent culture fit.
Often underestimated and overlooked by executives and hiring managers, hiring a person who fits the company culture should be on the top of the priority checklist along with educational qualifications and track record of productivity when shortlisting and interviewing candidates for a vacant position. A person who has an average work production rate but fits the company culture perfectly would be a better hire than a person who will be productive but does not work well with the team or is a horrible culture fit.
Craft a Vision or Mission Statement
As it is addresses who you are, what you do, how you do it, who you do it for and the value achieved from it, crafting a vision or mission statement is extremely important. The vision/mission statement is what serves as the basis of the company culture. Additionally, it provides the company with a purpose and guides its values, which in turn steers every decision made by the employees.
Provided they are authentic and exhibited prominently, well-crafted vision statements can not only guide employees, but help customers, suppliers and other stakeholders. Often, the success of a company is determined by how simple or compelling its vision statements are. In short, a company’s vision is simple yet foundational element of company culture.
Have Obvious Company Values
The core of a company’s culture, the values of a company informs employees and other people about the purpose of the company and the required behaviors and mindsets in pursuit of the vision. Hiring managers often ask candidates in interviews why they want to work for their company but do you know why? It is to determine whether the knowledge, personal goals and motives of the candidate are in sync with the company’s values. Many hiring managers reject candidates for a position just because they are not aligned with the company’s values.
McKinsey & Company—a worldwide management consulting firm, has a clear set of values that are conspicuously conveyed to every employee and reveal how the company intends to maintain professional standards, treat colleagues, and serve clients. Another company with obvious company values is Google which is known for encouraging employee creativity, and having a casual work environment. No matter what your company values are, get the word about them out there and attract professionals aligned to them.
Prioritize Team Over Individuals
The final and probably the most important thing that you need to do when crafting your company culture is prioritizing team over individuals. By giving preference to team over individuals, you will bring the essentials of a company culture mentioned above in one place. This in turn will ensure an inviting company culture—a culture that helps attracts and retain the desired talent. Also, when people work with like-minded people, they are more likely to be motivated to be at work and complete tasks in an efficient manner.
There you have it—the four essentials of a company culture. By using the some of these idea above, you can develop a company culture that helps you to not only attract and retain the desired talent, but also ensure high-employee productivity and an upbeat and motivated work environment.
by Bobby J Davidson
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