The workplace is an important place in any business. It is here that people interact as they work. After all is said and done, the sum of all these interactions eventually defines the culture of the organization. It is essential that the management gets its right from the beginning to avoid ugly scenarios which could have been easily avoided if the culture had been established right from the word go. Do not get me wrong, I am not against change. In any case, I strongly believe that change is like rest.
Here are a few steps which the management can follow to create an acceptable culture.
1. Define the values you are going to embrace
These will be largely drawn from the organization’s mission and vision statements. The management must know what it desires to achieve. After determining the goals, it is vital that values which are in line with the overall objective of the business be identified and emphasized on. These values will form the basis on which the business runs, and will largely dictate why things are being done in a certain manner. These values justify what the organization does, while giving good reasons as to why it has to be done in a particular manner.
2. Lead by example
The values may be identified well, but if the top management does not provide an example to be emulated, then it is all in vain. The owners of the business must lead from the front so as to cast out any doubt that may exist among the employees. If the organization states that people must be dressed neatly in a suit and a tie, then the managers have to lead the pack. Leading by example is a sign of commitment towards a certain plight, and employees will have no problems implementing the values if they have a person to look out to on a daily basis.
3. Communicate effectively
In outlining a culture, the management has to sit down with the employees to discuss these matters. There must be a careful analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the current culture. The management must let the employees know what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. Effective communication is the key to aligning peoples’ thoughts and actions towards what is desired, and if communication falls short of the expected standards, I can almost guarantee that the enterprise is headed for doom. It is also vital for the managers to listen to the views of the employees in order to know what is brewing.
4. Hire the right people and introduce the desired culture into the new hires
Hiring the right people is a great step in building an organizational culture. There are lots of people with impressive CVs out there, but a glittering CV is not all it takes to be the right person to hire. As it is, a culture is something that should be passed on from one generation of workers to the next, and a high turnover is a big threat to having a culture that lasts. Hiring the right people means hiring those who are qualified for the job, who, in addition, are passionate about the core business of the organization and can associate with every step the business takes. Avoid those who are seeking to use your enterprise as a stepping stone for greater glory. Upon finding the right persons, ensure that you inculcate in them the desired culture so that they feel at home with it right from the beginning.
5. Make good use of positive reinforcement
Reward those employees who are making deliberate effort to uphold the organizational culture. Openly praise the employees who are watering the values and uprooting the weeds that malnourish the culture. Those who embrace and utilize the culture in their relations with colleagues and customers should be patted in the back in a manner which will make other employees strive to uphold the right culture. Negative reinforcement can be used on the employees who ignore or try to oppress the set culture. Sometimes strict measures such as termination of contract can be put in place, but only when it is necessary.
6. Incorporate diversity into the culture
The world has become a global village. It would be extremely boring to work in an organization where all employees come from the same region, speak the same language and originate from the same tribe. Diversity will do you a lot of good. It will ensure that everyone has a place in the organization. Peoples’ background will not be a limiting factor in the organization. Such differences will serve to bring in energy as well as different ideas which are likely to take your business to another level altogether.
How To Create A Lasting Organisational Culture
