Build a Sticky Company Culture From the Start

As a leader, you likely know the positive impacts of company culture. Things like higher job satisfaction and retention rates, greater employee engagement, a real feeling of professional purpose, and increased performance and productivity levels.

Obviously, the benefits of a strong company culture for anyorganization are vast and need to be taken into serious and continuous consideration, yet many leaders are unsure of how to effectively launch their efforts. A haphazard approach to building company culture can backfire. Meanwhile, a strategic, proactive and responsive approach can be a game changer for all, translating not just to a more effective, positive workplace but a stronger, more successful brand.

Ready to be more strategic and proactive around bettering your company culture? Check out these pointers to ensure it is sticky from the start:

1. Involve your people (and their ideas). You may have agood grasp of what you want your company culture to look and feel like, but in interpreting and building understanding around your company’s vision, mission and vital goals, other team members can bring fresh ideas to the table.Don’t discount their value by making company culture about you. Giving your people a voice and honoring their contributions and passion around this activity will build the buy-in you need for culture-building success, engagement and productivity.

2. Think—and plan—before you jump. When making the decision to improve company culture, one of the biggest mistakes leaders make is to jump into it without developing a good plan. They start hosting employee BBQs. Maybe require everyone to do some random out-of-office team-building experience or exercise (think: ropes course). Or roll out a new employee recognition program. These can allbe great activities, but the fun factor doesn’t make them the right activities for each and every organization out there, or each and every employee.

By collectively building a plan, it forces focus aroundwhat’s vital, what you really want to achieve, who is going to be involved, and the extent of their involvement. MAP consultants are masters at building effective accountability plans. If you don’t know how to build a plan around improving workplace culture, turn to us for guidance and coaching. We’ll be happy to help!

3. Keep bandwidth in mind. In addition to planning, make sure the plan and its supporting strategies are actually doable. For example, do you have the staff to carry out the strategies and activities that have been designed to build and better your workplace culture? And if you do have the staff, do they really have interest, bandwidth—or both?

Sometimes people bite off more than they can chew and find themselves having to choose between their core responsibilities and these culture-building activities. If you’re going to add corporate culture planning and participation to their plate, make sure they can manage it with their current workload or free up their bandwidth so they can feel empowered, successful and, above all, not resentful about the culture you’re striving to create.

Want to better your workplace culture? Turn to MAP to help you build a plan. Contact Us today!

Build a Sticky Company Culture From the Start

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