How to Build a Company Culture that Counts

Creating a thriving company culture is not done overnight, in a week, or even in a single month. It’s created over time, with intentional investment from company leadership, and a commitment to keeping it top of mind each and every day.

In his book, HBR Guide to Crafting Your Purpose, author & managing partner of Sovereign’s Capital Jon Coleman writes, “Workplaces that have a deep sense of mission and values with which we can align are more engaging and joyful to work for.”

As you read that quote, do you have a solidified mission and values that come to mind for your company?

If so, great! Now, take a second to think about your team. If you asked them about those values, would they be singing the same tune?

Are your company values clear, concise and communicated through the entire organization?

Not just on a poster in the break room or a page on your website, but in the daily grind and conversations?
And let's push the envelope a bit more: Do your teammates know how to live and breathe those values in their everyday tasks?

Let’s say that your company values innovation, and a new issue arises with a client that your employees don’t directly have a solution for. In a company where innovation is clearly your value, the team feels confident to get curious, think outside of the box and take some big swings, because they know you expect them to come back to you with the problem and their proposed solution(s). In a company where that’s not the case, you’ll likely just hear about the problem and be asked what to do.

If you find yourself feeling a little fuzzy about your company’s mission and values, you’re not alone. However, for the long term health of your business it’s vital that you take the time to define your core values and where your organization is headed.

Why Your Company Values Matter

Having clearly defined values and company mission allows your employees to take ownership to do their best work because:

• They have a lens through which they can make decisions that they know aligns with the company.

• They exhibit the values that are often the same ones that got you to the point of running a successful business.

• Companies with clear values are less dependent on the owner, since their employees are working in a manner that replicates the values of the owner.

Although the values of your business may feel crystal clear to you as the founder of your business, you see that things may change as you scale and evolve. Maybe you’re acquiring a business, shifting into a new market, or redefining your service offerings; whatever that is, you know your team will grow and shift, and if you’d like your culture to last, you’d better be able to articulate it.

Your company’s mission is where you’re headed. It’s the bullseye for all you do. Clarity in your mission allows your employees to make decisions more quickly since they know if it aligns with the mission or not.

Your values are how you achieve your mission. What are the 3-5 things that must be true about your employees to be a part of your team? Examples include; Integrity, Grit, Enthusiasm, etc. Having defined values makes it simpler to hire the right people.

4 Questions to Enhance Your Company Culture

As you start this next season, ask yourself these questions about where your company culture is today and how you can change it in the future.

1.What are the core values of our company?

Our team recently went through a great exercise of defining these values by thinking about friends, mentors, and past co-workers and what attributes we admire about them. This helped us clarify our specific values at Doescher Group.

2. Have we clearly communicated these values and can our team repeat them?

Repetition is a resource when it comes to communicating and implementing your company’s values. Think about how often your employees are hearing the values from you and company leadership.

3. Have we publicly recognized employees that exhibit these values?

Think of ways that you can celebrate your employees for taking actions that align with your company values. Create a plan for recognizing them and encouraging others to do the same.

4. Are there any areas where we’re settling instead of striving to our values?

"You won't always get what you strive for, but you will definitely get what you settle for. You won't magically outperform your standards." - James Clear

You fall to the level of what you accept and it’s important to take a hard look at your business and see where your actions are not aligning with your stated values.

Building a solid company culture isn't a one-and-done deal. It's a journey that needs continuous monitoring. Remember, your mission is your North Star, guiding where you want to go, while your values are the compass that keeps everyone on track.

Are your values and mission crystal clear?

Can your team rattle them off without hesitation?

If not, it's time to roll up those sleeves. When everyone's on the same page, decisions become easier, hires become more aligned, and the whole company moves forward with purpose.

So, let's commit to this: defining what matters most, leading by those principles, and celebrating every win along the way.

At Doescher Group, we believe in more than just numbers. We believe who you are, and how you operate counts for just as much as the P&L. If you’d like to talk about your company culture, and how it could be setting you apart, or holding you back as you look to make your next moves, we are here to help.