Why Company Culture is Important for Success
Sheryl Wright
The culture of an organization plays a role in its success on various levels. Corporate culture includes things such as a company's values, attitudes, and goals. The culture within your organization's ranks influences performance and morale among the staff. It also affects customer satisfaction. Essentially, the ways in which your employees work together and how they feel about your company will eventually affect your bottom line. Read on to discover just why company culture is important for success.
Identity
Your company culture defines the identity of your organization, both internally and externally. It influences the ways in which people see you. Creating a strong reputation starts from within. The practices and attitudes cultivate inside your company's walls will reverberate to influence your reputation among colleagues, competition, customers, and the public at large.
Values
The culture you build within your company is a reflection of the values your organization holds. This can be for better or worse. The values you claim to hold should be seen in the way you do business and how you treat people. If there is a discrepancy between the realities of life within your organization and the words you use to talk about it, you have a problem. Failing to live up to your company's values can lead to personnel problems such as low morale, poor productivity, and high turnover. People will soon realize that your supposed core values are merely buzzwords. In order to create a strong company culture, you must ensure you demonstrate your core values in every aspect of your business.
Advocacy
A company culture that treats its employees well and shows that they value the contributions of their workers is one that will be successful. Your employees will become your greatest assets and advocates if they feel their work is appreciated and that they are valued team members. People need to feel that they matter. You can demonstrate the importance of your employees by recognizing and rewarding them for what they do. Encouraging a culture of praise is a good way to start, but people look for more than just words in order to truly believe you appreciate them. Formal recognition through rewards such as monetary incentives, time off, prizes or awards banquets can go a long way toward showing your appreciation and inspiring advocacy. Something as simple as ordering awards from an online trophy maker and throwing a yearly banquet can be a good start toward improving the company culture through recognition.
Retention
When you work hard to build a positive company culture, you'll notice that you have less turnover. People want to stay where they're treated well and where their contributions are valued. Retention will improve overtime as you begin to strengthen your company's core values. Not only that, but you'll also attract a better crop of applicants. Word spreads within industries. People know which companies are pleasant to work for and which ones are toxic. As you begin to build a reputation of positive corporate culture, you'll be able to pick and choose the potential employees who will best fit into the mix. Not only will you draw quality talent, you'll find that the character of your applicants is also desirable.
Teamwork
In an organization that emphasizes a strong corporate culture, people work together well. Because they hold similar values, they're more likely to be on the same page and want to accomplish like-minded goals. They see the big picture. They will reward the positive working conditions you've created with loyalty and a strong desire to perform. You'll simply generate better results when you cultivate positive company culture.
Wellbeing
Strong company culture creates happy employees. When your workers enjoy their jobs, they will perform better. They will also live better. A positive culture within an organization encourages mental wellbeing. People feel appreciated. They enjoy their work. They know they are supported. Happy workers will usually be healthier workers.
As you can see, there are several benefits to creating a strong company culture. Consistency and communication are necessary components in order to build the culture you desire within your organization. While it may take some time and dedication, you'll find the investment to be well worth it in the end.
About the Author: Sheryl Wright is a freelance writer who specializes in digital marketing, inclusive business, and interior design. If she is not at home reading, she is at a farmer's market or climbing in the Rockies. She currently lives in Nashville, TN.