Read time: 3m read
While perfecting your product and finding your first customers might be the immediate priority, a business without a clearly defined culture can struggle to attract staff as it grows. Equally, without a distinct purpose, those working for your business can lose sight of what they come into work for every day, risking low morale and poor productivity.
So, how do you build and maintain a strong company culture? And what does building a culture mean? Read on to find out.
How do you develop culture?
One of the most common questions asked by entrepreneurs as they launch their business is: what makes a great company culture?
There’s no one answer to this question because each entrepreneur will have different values and different priorities for their company and their life. A good place to start is understanding exactly what culture means in a business setting and how it can help you grow.
“A culture is how you collectively act on a daily basis,” says Manley Hopkinson, a leadership consultant whose clients include leading global businesses. “It informs how you debate, disagree, decide, delegate and deliver.
“The culture enables effective collaboration and the creation of a sense of collective understanding. It’s the people acting true to the culture who will, in the end, drive the success of the business. With a clearly defined and articulated culture, you create a fast, agile, innovative and effective company – and who wouldn’t want that?”
How is culture built in a company?
Again, there’s no exact answer, but one thing most experts agree on is the need to start thinking about it from your earliest days in business. The longer you leave it, the harder it will be to define and implement.
By setting out your values from the start, you can improve the chances of attracting new talent to the business, who will in turn help spread your vision as the company grows.
"Setting the culture of the business early on is vital as it will either make or break the experience for your first few employees,” says Luke Tobin, founder of Digital Ethos, a digital-marketing agency. “They have the first taste of what your business is like to work for and making this experience a positive one is crucial. Simply, if your employees enjoy the culture and are invested socially in the company, then they will naturally help it to evolve.
“Ultimately, a positive and vibrant business retains employees, and with a strong, long-lasting team, results can be produced far quicker than they can in a business with revolving-door employees."
How do leaders create culture?
Leaders play the most significant role in creating a strong culture because they provide an example for others to follow. This is especially true for start-up founders in the early stages of building their business, as they set the tone for the years ahead.
“A business leader can make sure that the values and culture they believe in are installed from the start by getting closely involved themselves,” adds Manley, who has just had a book published called Compassionate Leadership.
“An entrepreneur is the spark that lights the beacon. They are the courageous ones who begin a journey that others join. It’s the strength of their character as well as their vision that attracts and excites, and it tends to be their own values and personality that form the basis of the initial culture.”
What are examples of company culture?
Company cultures are often based on the values of the founder and his or her experiences. This can range from strong ethical stances to environmental and social commitments. It can also include a clear articulation of the practices you believe will make your business successful.
“Culture is one of the core elements that can enable a company to scale up successfully,” says Aaron Rudman-Hawkins, founder and Managing Director of The Evergreen Agency, which specialises in search-engine optimisation. “As we’ve grown, I've needed to have confidence in my team to provide that same top-level service that I as the founder would provide for our clients. This trust and confidence comes as a result of having an iron-clad culture that we call 'The Evergreen Way' of doing things.
“Culture unites a team and ensures that our clients receive a consistent level of five-star service, regardless of who they speak to. This allows any business owner or management-team member to take a step back and focus on the growth and development of a company, without having to sacrifice the quality of its products and services."
Talk to us
A strong corporate culture is key to motivating your workforce, and if you want to know more ways to retain staff, we can help. Contact us today for advice and information.
Read time: 3m read
While perfecting your product and finding your first customers might be the immediate priority, a business without a clearly defined culture can struggle to attract staff as it grows. Equally, without a distinct purpose, those working for your business can lose sight of what they come into work for every day, risking low morale and poor productivity.
So, how do you build and maintain a strong company culture? And what does building a culture mean? Read on to find out.
How do you develop culture?
One of the most common questions asked by entrepreneurs as they launch their business is: what makes a great company culture?
There’s no one answer to this question because each entrepreneur will have different values and different priorities for their company and their life. A good place to start is understanding exactly what culture means in a business setting and how it can help you grow.
“A culture is how you collectively act on a daily basis,” says Manley Hopkinson, a leadership consultant whose clients include leading global businesses. “It informs how you debate, disagree, decide, delegate and deliver.
“The culture enables effective collaboration and the creation of a sense of collective understanding. It’s the people acting true to the culture who will, in the end, drive the success of the business. With a clearly defined and articulated culture, you create a fast, agile, innovative and effective company – and who wouldn’t want that?”
How is culture built in a company?
Again, there’s no exact answer, but one thing most experts agree on is the need to start thinking about it from your earliest days in business. The longer you leave it, the harder it will be to define and implement.
By setting out your values from the start, you can improve the chances of attracting new talent to the business, who will in turn help spread your vision as the company grows.
"Setting the culture of the business early on is vital as it will either make or break the experience for your first few employees,” says Luke Tobin, founder of Digital Ethos, a digital-marketing agency. “They have the first taste of what your business is like to work for and making this experience a positive one is crucial. Simply, if your employees enjoy the culture and are invested socially in the company, then they will naturally help it to evolve.
“Ultimately, a positive and vibrant business retains employees, and with a strong, long-lasting team, results can be produced far quicker than they can in a business with revolving-door employees."
How do leaders create culture?
Leaders play the most significant role in creating a strong culture because they provide an example for others to follow. This is especially true for start-up founders in the early stages of building their business, as they set the tone for the years ahead.
“A business leader can make sure that the values and culture they believe in are installed from the start by getting closely involved themselves,” adds Manley, who has just had a book published called Compassionate Leadership.
“An entrepreneur is the spark that lights the beacon. They are the courageous ones who begin a journey that others join. It’s the strength of their character as well as their vision that attracts and excites, and it tends to be their own values and personality that form the basis of the initial culture.”
What are examples of company culture?
Company cultures are often based on the values of the founder and his or her experiences. This can range from strong ethical stances to environmental and social commitments. It can also include a clear articulation of the practices you believe will make your business successful.
“Culture is one of the core elements that can enable a company to scale up successfully,” says Aaron Rudman-Hawkins, founder and Managing Director of The Evergreen Agency, which specialises in search-engine optimisation. “As we’ve grown, I've needed to have confidence in my team to provide that same top-level service that I as the founder would provide for our clients. This trust and confidence comes as a result of having an iron-clad culture that we call 'The Evergreen Way' of doing things.
“Culture unites a team and ensures that our clients receive a consistent level of five-star service, regardless of who they speak to. This allows any business owner or management-team member to take a step back and focus on the growth and development of a company, without having to sacrifice the quality of its products and services."
Talk to us
A strong corporate culture is key to motivating your workforce, and if you want to know more ways to retain staff, we can help. Contact us today for advice and information.
Read time: 3m read
While perfecting your product and finding your first customers might be the immediate priority, a business without a clearly defined culture can struggle to attract staff as it grows. Equally, without a distinct purpose, those working for your business can lose sight of what they come into work for every day, risking low morale and poor productivity.
So, how do you build and maintain a strong company culture? And what does building a culture mean? Read on to find out.
How do you develop culture?
One of the most common questions asked by entrepreneurs as they launch their business is: what makes a great company culture?
There’s no one answer to this question because each entrepreneur will have different values and different priorities for their company and their life. A good place to start is understanding exactly what culture means in a business setting and how it can help you grow.
“A culture is how you collectively act on a daily basis,” says Manley Hopkinson, a leadership consultant whose clients include leading global businesses. “It informs how you debate, disagree, decide, delegate and deliver.
“The culture enables effective collaboration and the creation of a sense of collective understanding. It’s the people acting true to the culture who will, in the end, drive the success of the business. With a clearly defined and articulated culture, you create a fast, agile, innovative and effective company – and who wouldn’t want that?”
How is culture built in a company?
Again, there’s no exact answer, but one thing most experts agree on is the need to start thinking about it from your earliest days in business. The longer you leave it, the harder it will be to define and implement.
By setting out your values from the start, you can improve the chances of attracting new talent to the business, who will in turn help spread your vision as the company grows.
"Setting the culture of the business early on is vital as it will either make or break the experience for your first few employees,” says Luke Tobin, founder of Digital Ethos, a digital-marketing agency. “They have the first taste of what your business is like to work for and making this experience a positive one is crucial. Simply, if your employees enjoy the culture and are invested socially in the company, then they will naturally help it to evolve.
“Ultimately, a positive and vibrant business retains employees, and with a strong, long-lasting team, results can be produced far quicker than they can in a business with revolving-door employees."
How do leaders create culture?
Leaders play the most significant role in creating a strong culture because they provide an example for others to follow. This is especially true for start-up founders in the early stages of building their business, as they set the tone for the years ahead.
“A business leader can make sure that the values and culture they believe in are installed from the start by getting closely involved themselves,” adds Manley, who has just had a book published called Compassionate Leadership.
“An entrepreneur is the spark that lights the beacon. They are the courageous ones who begin a journey that others join. It’s the strength of their character as well as their vision that attracts and excites, and it tends to be their own values and personality that form the basis of the initial culture.”
What are examples of company culture?
Company cultures are often based on the values of the founder and his or her experiences. This can range from strong ethical stances to environmental and social commitments. It can also include a clear articulation of the practices you believe will make your business successful.
“Culture is one of the core elements that can enable a company to scale up successfully,” says Aaron Rudman-Hawkins, founder and Managing Director of The Evergreen Agency, which specialises in search-engine optimisation. “As we’ve grown, I've needed to have confidence in my team to provide that same top-level service that I as the founder would provide for our clients. This trust and confidence comes as a result of having an iron-clad culture that we call 'The Evergreen Way' of doing things.
“Culture unites a team and ensures that our clients receive a consistent level of five-star service, regardless of who they speak to. This allows any business owner or management-team member to take a step back and focus on the growth and development of a company, without having to sacrifice the quality of its products and services."
Talk to us
A strong corporate culture is key to motivating your workforce, and if you want to know more ways to retain staff, we can help. Contact us today for advice and information.