Culture: Three Interconnected Pillars For Business Rhythm
Last week we shared a brief overview on PEOPLE: Three Interconnected Pillars For Business Rhythm. Our intention with this blog is to foster awareness regarding the importance of CULTURE sustaining a thriving Rhythm.
Recap: Three Pillars for Rhythm:
1.) System
2.) People
3.) Culture
“Culture is simply a shared way of doing something with a passion.” ~ Brian Chesky, Co-Founder, CEO, Airbnb
Culture: Culture is what we all experience walking into a business. Culture is the attitude and core values shared. People carry it, the decor can reveal it, even the lighting and music can help us experience it. Culture can give you the extra edge over industry peers. Culture includes the brand, but it goes beyond the brand. Your systems also carry culture. It could also be described as the heart and soul of the business. Whatever is tolerated will eventually become culture.
Culture Awareness:
1.) What CULTURE is currently carrying your vision, purpose and mission?
2.) What do employees or customers say they experience with your company?
3.) What are the core values carrying your business?
What are the Core Values?
Think of core values like driving a vehicle on the right side of the highway. Awareness of Core Values will give constant feedback for safe travel carrying product or service to its destination. Core Values define our yes and our no. Think of them like a lane at a bowling ally. Core values can also be described like pistons in the engine: there is a rhythm of them all working together.
“Company Culture is the product of a company’s values, expectations and environment.” ~ Courtney Chapman, Product Manager, Rubicon Project
Creating Core Values:
1.) What are five to eight CORE VALUES for your business or organization?
2.) Collaborate with your team. Ask their feedback on what the vision carries. What do they hear from repeat and satisfied customers?
3.) It’s important to define each core value in your own words. The mistake many make is that they’re operating out someone else’s core values.
4.) List them out and revisit a few times a month until the core values and definition create the lines on the highway giving culture its guidelines. Core Values should bring focus, clarity and enthusiasm.
Core Values Applied:
1.) Be intentional about what you’re building by integrating the Core Values into every aspect of your business. Think of a builder with a specific set of plans.
2.) Empower your team to integrate each core value within their team and into the customer service.
3.) During your team huddles, share wins of how the core values showed up on the team and in customer service. Acknowledge and reward how the core values are applied, fostered and integrated in your systems. Honor and celebrate creativity and initiative.
4.) Does your team know the core values?
Key: Inspire the why behind each core value. Share the heart behind each core value.
Model the Culture:
1.) BECOME and BE the culture you desire.
2.) LIVE and LEARN the culture to reflect.
3.) Culture is caught more than taught.
CULTURE carries RHYTHM:
“Everyone on the team plays an equal role. My role is to create the wave and everyone on our team keeps the wave going.” ~ William Wang, Founder, Vizio
Think of CULTURE like the waves in the ocean carrying the surfer, or like the high tide taking every boat higher because it’s in the water. Going back to the three parts, Systems, People and Culture. We invite you to start with your five to eight core values and practice integrating them into the day to day rhythm of your company or organization. Remember to inspire your team and avoid pushing your team. People respond and stay the long haul through being empowered.
“Performance more often comes down to a cultural challenge, rather than simply a technical one.” ~ Lara Hogan, Senior Engineering Manager of Performance, Etsy
Action Awareness:
Take inventory where your culture is at now. Then 30/60/90/120 days from now, benchmark where your culture is at. Ask, are the core values are becoming part of conversations and feedback from customers?
Culture Perspectives:
1.) “Customers will never love a company until the employees love it first.” ~ Simon Sinek, author, Start with Why
2.) “There’s no magic formula for great company culture. The key is just to treat your staff how you would like to be treated.” ~ Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Group
3.) “Corporate culture is the only sustainable competitive advantage that is completely within the control of the entrepreneur.” ~ David Cummings, Co-Founder, Pardot
You were born for greatness,
Ed Garner