If you’re part of a growing company, you probably fondly remember the days when a core group of highly-dedicated people banded together to land that first big client, fulfill a seemingly impossible order, or achieve a breakthrough in your product. Since then, you’ve hired more people and implemented processes to bring predictability to the operations but you’re likely finding that the day-to-day demands of the business are dominating your time. So who’s managing your company culture?
It’s critically important to preserve and nurture the company culture as your business grows. According to Ron Mondor, President of a fast-growing IT firm, losing sight of the core values of your company is a considerable business risk. “As your team grows, it’s harder to articulate and reinforce the essence of the company but it’s more important than ever,” says Mondor. “You don’t get a ‘do-over’ on this,” he adds. “If you let it get away from you, you may never get it back.”
Keep it simple
One of the keys to success lies in simplicity. In other words, make it easy for employees to connect with the company values and rally around them. These are the fundamental beliefs that guide organizational behaviour. For example, core values may be centered around environmental stewardship, innovation, safety, or – like Google’s list of 10 things we know to be true – you might cover a lot of territory, such as making money without doing evil. Think of it as the business philosophy that makes someone want to work with you, not just for you.
Keep it real
Ideally, company values are a reflection of the organization’s beliefs that will stand the test of time, so they are not typically tied to current markets or products. Most importantly, they are authentic. Don’t use platitudes or marketing slogans and try to make them fit into the organization.
As a business leader, your actions must consistently reinforce your corporate culture. For example, if your vision, goals, and milestone celebrations are aligned with your values, your employees will be more invested in the company’s success. This will, at times, be challenging since every business leader is faced with difficult decisions – often in situations where discretion is required. Your team may not fully understand the circumstances around your decision but HOW you act and communicate is as important as what you do.
The biggest challenge is carving out time to manage your corporate culture. “There are many areas of business management where technology can streamline tasks – this isn’t one of them,” says Mondor. He recommends using technology solutions to gain operational efficiencies and empower others so you can focus on these types of strategic activities. The good news is that the IT tools and systems that can help are more accessible than ever to small and midsize businesses.
Takeaway – Carve out the time and do it right
There’s no silver bullet for defining and managing your corporate culture. It takes time, commitment, and a sincere desire to maintain a cohesive workplace environment. It’s vital though to maintain the true essence of your company and keep people actively engaged in its success.
Useful links related to this article
> How-to article: Learn the mistakes that growing businesses make – and how to avoid them
> BDC Small Business Week Events: Interactive map of sessions across Canada
> Video (1:56): So your business is growing…