Successful companies are more than just top-of-the-line products or services. They are organizations with skilled leaders and teams that buy in to the company cause. A great company is the result of a solid company culture—an atmosphere that keeps your employees engaged and committed to your company.
Establish your company values
Before you can create a strong company culture, you have to ask yourself and your team some important questions. What do you stand for? What sets you apart from your competition? Is your work environment formal and corporate in nature, or casual and youth-oriented? What is the company dress code? Are workstations traditional or funky and alternative?
While you probably have strong opinions about these questions, it is wise to involve your team in answering them as well. You might be surprised to find out what makes them tick, and what minor modifications could make a major difference in their motivation and performance.
Hold regular check-ins
Once you have determined what your company culture should look like, make frequent evaluations of your success part of the company routine. Include the whole team in these check-ins to get a global perspective. If you’ve committed to creating a superior company culture, you naturally committed to hearing your employees and considering their feedback.
Schedule an annual retreat
Annual retreats are excellent for teambuilding, improving productivity and celebrating successes. Just leaving your office environment together helps refresh the spirit and open minds to new thoughts and new directions. We hold annual retreats and focus on four key questions each time:
• Where are we now?
• How did we get here?
• Where are we going?
• How will we get there?
Key to the success of retreats is establishing actionable goals as a result of your discussions. Follow up on these goals builds confidence and trust, both of which contribute to overall job satisfaction. Happy employees are invested in making sure you have happy clients!
Share your company culture
Once you have established what your company culture should look like and how you plan to monitor your progress toward it, you need to publicize your commitment. Share your culture with your clients and colleagues. Review your branding and message and ensure that they are consistent with your culture, and refresh them if you find they fall short.
Benefits of establishing a solid company culture
As soon as your company culture becomes a day-to-day part of your operations, you’ll notice that not only are you leading a team of employees who can’t wait to get to work, but you’ll also begin to attract prospective clients who share your ideals. You’ll also build better, more fruitful relationships with industry peers. Having a direction and a team that’s onboard can revolutionize your events business and help you take your business to the next level.
No two company cultures are the same, so use these guidelines to establish one that’s right for you and your company.
Kevin Dennis is the editor of WeddingIQ and the owner of Fantasy Sound Event Services, a full-service event company based in Livermore, California. Dennis is the current chapter president for Silicon Valley NACE, and a past president for WIPA.
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