WHY EVERY COMPANY SHOULD FOCUS ON CULTIVATING A STRONG ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE.
Companies that have a healthy culture can outperform those companies that don’t. When companies start fostering a healthy culture, it can lead to becoming the ultimate competitive advantage in a world where business models can so easily be replicated.
Simon Sinek says; “Customers will never love a company until the employees love it first.” In this blog we will investigate what organisational culture really is, and how companies can ensure they have the right culture to retain valuable employees as well as increase overall performance.
What is organisational culture?
An organisational culture promotes a work environment that is supportive and structured and aids companies in achieving success. Organisational culture can be defined as the company’s vision, mission, objectives, expectations, and values that direct its employees. A strong company culture leads to increased motivation among employees which results in overall company performance.
The experiences of employees within the organisation, as well as the member’s ideas, thoughts and attitudes shape the beliefs held by most employees within the organisation, as well as shape the organisational culture. Organisational culture can further be described as a collection of traits that makes the company what it is.
Why should the right culture matter to organisations?
When employees are aligned to the organisation’s culture, it will lead to them feeling more supported, valued, and engaged. Furthermore, culture is seen as the number one advantage that attracts top talent as well as retains current employees. Indeed.com has provided top reasons as to why organisational culture is so important, which include:
Increased employee engagement
Having an organisational culture that is aligned with the employees’ value system, motivates employees to stay engaged as they feel their company supports and looks after them.
Decreased turnover
Working for a company where employees feel valued and respected, will decrease their likelihood to leave the company as they will enjoy their job.
High levels of productivity
When an organisational culture taps into employees’ strengths and provides them with the necessary tools to deliver excellent outputs, employees will be more productive which will increase overall performance.
Retaining top performers
When organisations focus on community and companionship within the workplace, they will retain the most effective employees. A high performing culture strengthens the work of people within the company, which leads to a positive experience for them.
Healthy team environment
When organisations have a clear culture which improves the workflow as well as guides employee decisions and reduces ambiguity, it leads to increased motivation to complete tasks and duties and creates a sense of purpose and camaraderie between employees.
How can organisations ensure they create the right organisational culture?
Creating a strengths-based culture can be the answer to various problems organisations are facing today. By utilising the strengths of each employee, it will create a positive work environment that makes the employees feel engaged as it meets the employees’ sense of belonging, uniqueness, and aspirations to develop at work. To create this strength-based culture companies should focus on the following aspects within the organisation:
Ensure the organisation focus on creating a purpose for employees. Employees who work in an environment where their strengths are utilised will create a sense of meaning which is much more valued than their salary at the end of every month.
Managers should act as the employees’ coaches and not just merely their boss. Motivating the employees to work on their strengths and develop even further, will create a positive work atmosphere and culture.
Feedback to employees should be an ongoing process throughout the year, and not just once a year when performance reviews take place. Employees are then constantly kept in the loop of how they progress in their job.
By focusing on cultivating employees’ strengths does not mean that organisations should not focus on developing areas of employees. It just means that when organisations motivate employees to work according to their strengths, it will create self-awareness and confidence to develop in those areas that they struggle in.
It is clear that an effective organisational culture is required to ensure optimal long-term performance in the company. Knowing the advantages of having a great company culture and what areas to focus on is one thing, but to ensure the company culture is sustained throughout the business requires buy-in and commitment from the leaders of the organisation who will pledge to lead by example and instil the behaviours, values, norms, and beliefs they want within the company. Coaching leaders as well as other managers within the organisation is critical to ensure they are equipped with the right tools to instil a strength-based culture in all employees within the company.
If you want to make a shift within your company and create an organisational culture that retains your top talent, reduces turnover, increases the engagement of employees, and improves overall performance, you are welcome to visit our website by clicking on the following link to find out more about the coaching services we offer to leaders and staff, as well as other offerings you might be interested in.
https://www.thedavidlegacy.co.za/services
References:
https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/guide/climate-vs-culture/
https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/290903/how-to-create-strengths-based-company-culture.aspx
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/why-organizational-culture-is-important