1. Vision
First and foremost is vision. Whether communicated via a simple mission statement or a corporate manifesto, a company’s vision can be a powerful tool.

2. Values
Values, while a broad concept, can embody the thinking and perspectives necessary to achieve a company’s vision. They can serve as a beacon for behavior necessary to progress toward all manner of success. Examples of values include fairness, trustworthiness, integrity, performance excellence, teamwork, and a high-quality customer experience.

3. People
People come next, with companies employing and recruiting in a way that reflects and enhances their overall culture. Plus, people are the key to bringing corporate culture to life and obtaining the high-value performances that can lead to favorable business outcomes.

4. Narrative and Place
Lastly, narrative and place are perhaps the most modern characteristics of corporate culture. Having a powerful narrative or origin story.

5. Teamwork
Employees should be encouraged and trained to work together with camaraderie and trust toward common goals. The benefits of teamwork, such as problem-solving, the development of innovative ideas, and improved productivity, should be demonstrated to the workforce.

6. Training and Education
Companies should provide the means for employees to improve their skills and enhance their knowledge so that the vision and goals of the company can be more reliably reached. Training and education can also provide employees with a path to new opportunities within their companies. This can motivate individuals to learn and do more.

HOW TO DEVELOP A CORPORATE CULTURE

There is no single strategy for building a corporate culture because companies, industries, and people can be so different. However, the basic steps below may help you envision a corporate culture that spells success for your employees, clients, and company.

1. Define your company’s vision, values, and behaviors.

2. Gather feedback from employees about your company’s values, ideas, and work methods to improve the workplace environment and performance.

3. Use small discussion groups, surveys, or town hall-type meetings to engage your employees and give them a voice.

4. Establish methods, such as training at regular intervals, to communicate company values/behaviors and determine how well they are understood.

5. Employ high-quality internal communications to maintain consistent contact with employees about company goals, the working environment, and employees’ roles in the company’s success.

6. Establish guidelines that reinforce company values, e.g., a rule that employees should not be disturbed by work phone calls, emails, or texts during vacations or other types of time off.

7. Recognize employees in a positive and public manner as a reward for their contributions to corporate success.

8. Practice what you preach—ensure that management maintains a consistent behavioral approach to operations rather than cutting corners when convenient.

9. Be approachable so that all employees may address their concerns and feel connected/of value and foster teamwork rather than silos and isolation.

10. Set goals for diversity and inclusion; celebrate the differences among people as you encourage consistent behavior from all.

Corporate culture refers to the values, beliefs, and behaviors that determine how a company’s employees and management interact, perform, and handle business transactions.

A company’s culture will be reflected in its dress code, business hours, office setup, employee benefits, turnover, hiring decisions, treatment of employees and clients, client satisfaction, and every other aspect of operations.

IMPORTANCE OF CORPORATE CULTURE

A carefully considered, corporate culture can elevate companies above their competitors and support long-lasting success. Such a culture can:
1. Provide for a positive workplace environment
2. Create an engaged, enthusiastic, and motivated workforce
3. Attract high-value employees
4. Reduce turnover
5. Drive and improve performance quality and productivity
6. Result in favorable business results
7. Underpin a company’s longevity
8. Strengthen return on investment (ROI)
9. Provide an implacable competitive advantage
10. Clarify for employees the goals of their positions, departments, and a company overall
11. Contribute to the diversification of the workforce

TYPES OF CORPORATE CULTURE

1. Clan Culture
Clan cultures are about teamwork and collaboration. In such a culture, those in management function as enthusiastic mentors who provide guidance to subordinates. Good relationships, encouragement, trust, and participation are key aspects.

2. Adhocracy Culture
Adhocracy culture creates an entrepreneurial workplace in which executives and employees function as innovators and risk-takers. In this flexible environment, agile thinking is nurtured. Employees are encouraged to pursue their aspirational ideas and take action to achieve results that can advance company goals.

3. Market Culture
Market culture is focused on meeting specific targets and bottom line goals. This culture creates a working environment that’s competitive and demanding. Management is most interested in business results. Employees are encouraged to work hard and “get the job done”.

4. Hierarchy Culture
A hierarchy culture is a traditional corporate culture that functions according to a company’s executive, management, and staff organizational structure. That is, it follows the chain of command from top down, where executives oversee employees and their work efforts to meet specific goals.

1. Communicate The Right Way:
Ineffective communication often occurs when managers talk to the wrong employees or share information in the wrong workplace setting. So, make sure the communication purpose directs you to relevant recipients.

2. Prioritize Two-Way Communication:
To avoid missing important information, don’t listen to a coworker just so you can reply. Instead, listen to understand them. Maintain eye contact with the speaker, jot down whatever comes to your mind while they’re speaking, and respond with relevant gestures to show you’re listening.

3. Build Your Communication Skills:

– Be clear: To communicate effectively, be clear about your goal, use easy-to-understand words and avoid incomplete sentences.
– Remain courteous: To enhance effective communication in the workplace, you need to practice respectful communication and work through differences positively.
– Stay open-minded: Make sure your employees feel comfortable approaching you with ideas or concerns.

4. Have One-On-One Interactions:
Schedule one-on-one meetings with your team members. These meetings show your employees that you value them and are willing to connect with them more personally. Plus, the timid or reserved ones tend to be more open and share valuable information and feedback in private settings.

5. Schedule Weekly Team Meetings:
Team managers can meet with team members to review each week’s accomplishments, challenges and concerns. They can also set goals and tasks for the following week and even discuss big-picture ideas. You can also take a step further by documenting important conversations and sharing recaps to clarify points and help the team remember recommendations and action points.

6. Make Time For Team Building:
Team building activities often create a dynamic working environment, where people feel safe and build their confidence. Let them socialize and collaborate through activities such as icebreaker games, puzzle-solving games, fitness sessions, team lunches and movie dates. Team members will loosen up and improve communication and team collaboration, promoting employee retention

7. Show Appreciation:
Businesses with engaged and happy workers make 23% more profits than those with miserable employees. To move closer to achieving your goals as an organization, you need to appreciate employees and show you care. Thank them for their brilliant ideas or for completing a task quickly. And that includes zeroing in on exactly what made you happy. It will show that you’re genuine, and they can replicate it, too.