Any business, whether big or small, has a personality that reflects its values. In the contemporary business world, company culture has become an integral part of employee attitude, and how employees create new ideas that can help grow the business. For the most part, it’s relatively noticeable how owners play the most important role in helping to form and establish an inclusive company culture.
While many new entrepreneurs are solely focused on getting the business off the ground, hiring new employees that can bring new life, and personality to the business can help establish a steadfast brand. Today you can find an abundance of great advice on how to create the most energetic company culture. Although this advice can help you in the long run, there’s always a few unanswered questions that slip through the cracks.
We’ve monitored dozens of businesses, and some like Zen Business can spark enthusiasm for new startup owners, as it helps establish much of the groundwork while owners can assist in creating an inclusive company culture.
Why is it important to have a healthy company culture?
In many ways, we can understand business culture as the personality your business has. More so, for employees, it opens up channels of effective and healthy communication between colleagues, and you as an employer. For some, it might feel as if their values and emotional needs are being noticed within the business.
One thing’s for certain, company culture can help you hire the right employee for the right job. Having a company culture that thrives on teamwork, and team building exercises means you can easily pick out someone who is a key team player and who enjoys working with people. More independent workers won’t always fit the job description, but it’s the small things your company can do, and offer new employees that will help them become more productive, and remain lasting members of the business.
Document the core values of your business
Once you’ve hired a well-fitting team, and have located weaknesses in your business, it’s time that you document the values of employees and that of your business. Soundboard ideas, and how the business can only grow if the staff does. Give a clear indication of the business values, and what you stand for. Ensure every team member is on board with changes and any new plans the business has for future endeavors. There’s more to your company culture than just a few bi-weekly get-togethers or praising staff for minimal effort.
The culture is already there
Whether you’re a brand new business or have been trading for a couple of months – your business already has a company culture. Whether you believe it or not, the culture that has been created in your business stems from you as an owner. Having just a few employees, or large teams of 20, there’s a culture between all of these members, and how they perceive, understand, and communicate core brand values. This is mostly reflected in how you as an owner speak, and spark interest in the employees.
Don’t force a culture
As a new startup owner, there’s a mountain of operational tasks you can control. When hiring new employees, or perhaps creating new teams, it’s important not to force a company culture. The company culture is the essence of how your employees perform, and how motivated they are. Forcing a company culture can result in your employees feeling pressured to form part of something they don’t necessarily approve of or enjoy. Let it come and go naturally, and your staff will easily adapt as they like.
Keep the culture alive
You want your startup to grow bigger. As the business grows, so should your culture, and its values. Adapting, changing, improving, and even sometimes firing will ensure your company culture will remain relevant as the business exceeds itself. There’s a lot of different ways you can ensure your company culture remains thriving, but monitoring employee wellness, and how productivity is improving can help give you a clear indication of how healthy company culture is.
Have a concise layout of business values, but be sure to take into consideration your employees, and how it can improve their skills, and help them grow. Having an open and inclusive environment means that employees can feel welcome, and are willing to give more than what is required of them.
