Culture Is Everything: What I Didn’t Know I Was Missing
When I started working with Doescher Group, I thought I was just taking a job. What I got was a whole new cultural professional experience.
I didn’t come in with anything negative to say about my previous employers. But once I experienced a good workplace, I started to understand just how quietly draining some of my previous workplaces had been. Not because there’d been drama, or dramatic headlines, just a slow wearing down that made it hard to feel energized, appreciated, or inspired.
That’s why an article I recently read about a trend called “quiet cracking” really hit home.
You might have heard of “quiet quitting,” where someone stays in a job but mentally checks out. Quiet cracking is a bit different. It’s what happens when employees are still trying, but they’re emotionally overwhelmed, burned out, or silently breaking under the pressure. According to recent research, more than half of employees are experiencing this today.
Here’s the thing: small business owners aren’t immune to this, and neither are their teams. Because many teams run lean and move fast, it can be even easier for burnout to hide in plain sight.
But here’s the good news: culture can be built intentionally. I’ve now seen it firsthand.
At Doescher Group, culture isn’t just a word we throw around in team meetings or tag on a mission statement. It’s baked into how we communicate, how we listen, how we celebrate wins (big and small), and how we show up for each other.
Related Read: Why Should You Build a Great Company Culture?
And I know that for self-made business owners, it can feel like there's never enough time to focus on things like culture when you're putting out fires all day. But I also believe that building a strong team culture is one of the best ways to prevent those fires in the first place.
So what can you do, even when time is tight?
Here are a few tools and strategies I’ve seen work well, especially for busy business owners:
Use tech to listen better. Tools like Officevibe, 15Five, or even a shared Slack channel dedicated to “how we’re doing” can give your team a voice, and at the same time, give you valuable insight.
Automate what you can. When systems like scheduling, invoicing, or follow-ups are automated, it frees you up to spend real, human time with your people. Want some ideas? Click here.
Schedule check-ins that aren’t just task-related. Just 10 minutes to ask “how’s your week going?” can go a long way. In fact, our team has a spot in our weekly meetings via the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to share one great win from their personal and professional lives each week. This allows us to get to know one another better and celebrate the great news together.
Recognize small wins in real time. Use tools like Bonusly or just send a quick, specific thank-you email or message. Recognition builds momentum, and everyone loves to have their hard work acknowledged.
Encourage unplugged time. Whether it’s reminding someone to take PTO or setting the example by logging off yourself, modeling balance matters.
I’m grateful every day to be part of a company where people genuinely want to contribute, grow, and stick around. That didn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of deliberate choices, clear values, and a lot of listening.
And I just wanted to say that if you’re a business owner, you can build this too. Even if it hasn’t always looked this way, small shifts can change your trajectory going forward. The payoff, for your team and for you, is worth it.
Let’s build workplaces where people don’t just survive, but thrive. If you want to chat about how great company culture can increase the value of your business, we’re here to help!
