Creating Culture: Connection, Future, Safety

Do me a favor and think about the one question everyone recommends you ask an interviewer: how would you describe your company’s culture? They’ll usually respond with some nonsense like “work hard, play hard” or “team-first mentality” or even “we’re kind of like a family,” which I always assumed meant that this a toxic work environment. Irregardless of their answer, you can easily tell a company’s culture by watching the way their people work together.

Organizational culture is the personality of a company. It includes the values, beliefs, behaviors, and social norms that define how people interact with one another and approach their work. A positive organizational culture is essential for attracting and retaining top talent, improving employee satisfaction and engagement, and achieving business success. To do so, leaders need to be aware of three key elements of a positive organizational culture: connection, future, and safety.

Connection

Connection refers to the relationships between people in the organization. Positive connections lead to greater collaboration, teamwork, and productivity. To foster connections in the workplace, leaders can take several actions:

• Encourage open communication: Leaders should create an environment where employees feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and ideas. This can be achieved by promoting open communication channels, such as regular team meetings, feedback sessions, and brainstorming sessions.
• Promote teamwork: This one sounds easy enough, but many companies struggle with prioritizing work that requires a team. Leaders should promote teamwork by creating opportunities for employees to work together on projects, fostering a sense of shared purpose, and celebrating team successes.
• Provide opportunities for socialization: Leaders should provide opportunities for employees to socialize and get to know each other outside of work. This can include team building activities, company outings, and social events.

Future

In sales, people don’t buy from you because of what you sell, they buy from you because of why you sell it. Future refers to the vision and goals of the organization, and employees and buyers alike will work with you if they believe what you believe. Therefore, a clear and compelling vision is essential to inspiring employees and creating a sense of purpose. To promote a future-oriented culture, leaders can take several actions:

• Define the company’s mission and vision: Leaders should define the company’s mission and vision and communicate it to employees regularly. This will help employees understand the company’s purpose and direction.
• Set clear goals: Leaders should set clear and measurable goals that align with the company’s mission and vision. This will help employees understand what they need to achieve and how they can contribute to the company’s success.
• Foster a growth mindset: Leaders should foster a growth mindset by encouraging employees to learn and develop new skills. This can be achieved by providing training and development opportunities, recognizing and rewarding employee growth, and promoting a culture of continuous learning.

Safety

Safety refers to physical and emotional safety in the workplace. A safe workplace promotes employee well-being and fosters a sense of trust and security. To promote a safe workplace, leaders can take several actions:

• Create an environment where the team can challenge you: Building on an idea to create connection, leaders should ensure that their teams are speaking their minds and providing honest feedback on everything from job satisfaction to company strategy. Good ideas are the result of diversity of thought, meaning questioning decisions and challenging the status-quo should be encouraged from everyone.
• Promote mental and emotional well-being: Leaders should promote mental and emotional well-being by providing resources and support for employees who may be struggling. This can include employee assistance programs, counseling services, and mental health days.
• Address issues of discrimination and harassment: Leaders should address issues of discrimination and harassment in the workplace promptly and effectively. This can be achieved by implementing clear policies and procedures for reporting and investigating incidents, providing training for employees on discrimination and harassment prevention, and taking swift action to address any incidents that occur.

The Bottom Line

Creating a positive organizational culture requires attention to several key elements, including connection, future, and safety. By fostering positive connections between employees, promoting a future-oriented mindset, and ensuring a safe workplace, leaders can create a culture that attracts and retains top talent, improves employee satisfaction and engagement, and drives business success.