Every successful business needs to build a strong organizational culture. It’s the set of beliefs, assumptions, values, and patterns of interaction that make up your company’s social and psychological environment.
Every growth-oriented entrepreneur needs to have a good organizational culture. And it explains your employees’ relationships with each other, within the organization, and with the outside world.
But the first thing you should know before building a culture for your company is that a culture is a tool that defines your company in the social and psychological environment.
A good culture helps your company to function effectively and make it recognizable regardless of the niche it operates.
When you have a strong organizational culture, your operation goes on successfully without hurdles. That is because once you establish a procedure, everybody knows what to do.
But the question now is – how do you build a strong organizational culture? Well, these few tips may help;
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#1. Be Clear About Your Beliefs
The first step to build a strong organizational structure is to be clear about your beliefs. Your company’s culture does not exist in isolation. It’s built on a set of beliefs, assumptions, values, and patterns of interaction.
So, as an entrepreneur or business leader, it’s important to be clear about your beliefs. It will go a long way to help you build a formidable culture for your business.
For better clarity of your beliefs, ask yourself the following questions;
- Why did you decide to start the business in the first place?
- What do you think constitutes good and bad practices?
- What type of behaviors do you want to promote?
The answers to these questions will give you clarity about your beliefs. Once you are sure about your beliefs, you can easily establish certain practices.
Don’t just establish practices; celebrate them. It will make people will realize the importance of that practice to the organization.
#2. Encourage Your Employees to Take Initiatives
One of the best ways to build a strong organizational culture is to encourage your employees to take great initiative.
Furthermore, award prizes to people who take initiatives within the organization. You can make them hero figures.
However, you have to ensure that the process is healthy and doesn’t affect the productivity of other team members. So, if somebody tries to show great initiatives at the expense of hurting people or costing the company lots of money, don’t encourage such initiatives.
It’s important to ensure that every initiative is not only respectful but also efficient. This way, it won’t come at the expense of other people’s feelings or your company’s profitability.
#3. Define a Common Language, Values, and Standards
One of the best ways to build a strong organizational culture is to speak in the same language. Endeavor to define the behavior you want every member of your team to exhibit.
Whatever values, language, and behavior you adopt, everybody must embrace them. Regardless of whether you are the CEO or the janitor, it’s important to internalize these values.
Your values are your company’s principles while set standards help you to measure the extent to which your values or principles are upheld.
As an entrepreneur, it’s easy to have a cohesive culture once you align your language, values, and standards.
However, if you want everybody to be on board with your organization’s culture, you need to adapt it over time as the company grows. The culture needs to adapt to different employees and trends.
#4. Lead by Example
A company’s culture is an extension of its leaders. In other words, your actions as a leader could shape your organization’s culture.
So, one of the best ways to build a strong organizational culture is to lead by example. Try to reflect your company’s values. As a business leader, you need to be the strongest advocate of your company’s values and standards.
Don’t just recite your company’s mission as a general solution to everything. Learn to exemplify what your company truly stands for.
Think about brands like SpaceX and how Elon Musk exemplifies everything the company stands for – bold, spirited, etc.
If you develop a strong passion for what you do as a leader, you will be an incredible source of inspiration for your employees and other people who intend to join the company.
So, it’s important to always lead by example and be transparent about your approach. It will help build trust in your work environment and preserve your organization’s culture in the long run.
#5. Treat People Right
Treating people right is one of the best ways to build a strong organizational culture. Most times, how we treat people tells a lot more about us.
Your company will achieve its goals and objectives if you establish a culture of treating people right regardless of what they are.
It doesn’t matter whether you are the CEO or manager endeavor to treat your employees well. Otherwise, there will be a massive employees turnover. And when this happens, it will affect your organization’s culture over time.
So, during the hiring process, always prioritize attitudes over skills. Of course, it’s good to have skillful employees on your team. But if their attitudes are bad, then they can fit into your company.
It’s easier to learn a new skill than to unlearn a bad character or habits. If you hire someone with awesome skills and a bad attitude, you are indirectly sabotaging your culture.
However, if you hire people with the right attitude, treat them well, and they will help you build a strong organizational culture. And don’t bother about employees turnover; nobody leaves a place where they feel appreciated, welcome, and valued.
