People want to be proud of where they work. No one wants to work for a company that makes them miserable, and few people are willing to work for an organization that seems to have no moral compass or guiding values. If you want to attract incredible employees who will work hard and believe in your vision, you have to invest in culture cultivation.

Unfortunately, too many large companies think that you can create company culture by selecting a few keys words and phrases, and repeating them ad nauseam in company meetings and asking your employees to chant them and come up with clever cheers that incorporate them. I guess, in a way, that is a creating a company culture, but trust me, it is not the one you’re intending to build.

Culture should be built organically, not forced, and there are things you can do to help it grow naturally.

Prioritize Leisure Time

Schedule some fun into the company routine. People who don’t know or enjoy each other won’t be able to help create culture because they won’t be invested enough in their work to care about the atmosphere or contribute to it. A little down-time now and then gives people a chance to unwind and get to know each other. And, along with helping create culture, it will also help productivity among co workers.

StaCulturert at The Top

If you want your company to be known for its friendly atmosphere or its outstanding integrity, you have to start at the top, and let it trickle down. First you should focus your training on your managers. How they treat your employees will really set the tone for your company. People within your company will emulate the upper management if they want to move up, so make sure you have stellar people steering the ship who are consistently focused on the culture they’re creating. Leadership coaching for your executives will translate to a successful culture throughout the company.

Listen

It’s easy to think that your company culture is pretty great, if you never check in with your employees. However, as you listen to the opinions of employees at all levels in your organization, you will get a better feel of how things are really going and what can be improved. Don’t just guess at what might make your company a better place to work, ask your employees what they want, and use their ideas.

For more information on intentional leadership that creates environments people thrive in, please contact us.