Can you remember the last time you consciously paid attention to your company’s culture?
If you’re like many of the business owners and managers we work with, it was when conflict showed up and knocked things off track. That’s when you discovered that people were not necessarily all operating under the same assumptions and expectations.
We suggest you take a good look at the state of your company’s culture now so that you can make necessary corrections and communications before a crisis or conflict erupts. A clear, consistent, and positive culture can prevent differences of opinion from escalating into conflict. Your corporate culture can also provide a framework for overcoming a crisis in the best way possible.
Give your culture a checkup based on the 4 Cs:
Climate – This includes how formal or informal your work environment is. How do you treat employees, customers, competitors, and your community? Examine whether there is a perception of inclusion or an air of exclusivity. Healthy and successful businesses have a climate of respect, kindness, and inclusivity.
Creativity – Look at how much freedom is allowed in decision-making, how willing you are to try new things and how much tolerance your company has for risk. Do you place a high value on conforming and similarity or encourage diversity in thinking and expression? Do you more frequently reward creativity or conformity? Employees report being happier in cultures where creativity is encouraged and rewarded so long as risks do not jeopardize organizational stability.
Communication – Vision, mission, and values should be clearly and frequently communicated within the organization. How does information flow throughout the organization? Do employees have the opportunity for input before decisions are made? Is there a high level of transparency or a sense of secrecy? How do you stay connected during a crisis? Is conflict addressed openly or is disagreement suppressed and silenced? Job satisfaction and employee retention tend to be higher in organizations where both transparency and opportunity for input are high and where conflict is handled openly and respectfully.
Commitment – Successful businesses have high commitment and engagement through every level of the organization. Dedication to shared goals and values is high and highly rewarded. Commitment is evident in a strong sense of shared identity and pride of belonging.
During and after the pandemic there have been many changes and challenges in most corporate cultures. Positive and healthy culture must be intentionally created and communicated so that the culture will take root and thrive.
As you continue to settle into a post-pandemic rhythm for your business, it’s a good time to take stock of your company culture to make sure it is healthy, positive, and clearly communicated.
Earn your business an A in corporate culture by paying attention to the 4 Cs.