What is the importance of culture to an organization?
Like many entrepreneurs, you probably launched a business to share a product or service you're absolutely passionate about. But then, somewhere along the way – usually as a work team begins to develop – many entrepreneurs realize that their company's legacy will be shaped by something equally important: the culture they create at their business. Show Culture Gives Off an AuraCulture is at once intangible and yet palpable – the sum total of the ideologies, principles, traditions and values that pulsate throughout an organization. You cannot set a clock to culture; it emerges over time, shaped in no small part by the owner or owners' leadership, attitude and decisions. Culture as a Family BondCulture may sound a bit like family – exuding an aura that can be felt, whether people are seated in cubicles or stretched out on a backyard patio. It's an apt analogy, because culture goes to the heart of personality and character – the intrinsic qualities that, at their best, can bond people together as a cohesive and united force, ready to achieve anything. Indifference is DestructiveSuch lofty talk about culture naturally invites critics and something potentially more destructive: business owners who are indifferent to culture. These naysayers regard culture as out of their hands – a topic employees may talk about after-hours but an issue they think business owners cannot manage even if they wanted to. Positive Culture Sows Positive OutcomesAfter learning about the important roles that culture plays in an organization, you'll take a decidedly proactive stance – because you know culture is vital to the success of your small business. Consider how a positive culture can:
Culture Represents a Blend of IngredientsAs your small business prospers, it may help to think of culture as a hearty, homemade soup. One or two ingredients – meaning your leadership and management styles – may stand out most. But the culture needs a boost from other ingredients to enrich satisfaction in its overall flavor and sustenance. The culture at your small business will be affected by your:
Take Stock ... of Your StockLike many small-business owners, you probably have your mind on so many things that it may take a conscious effort to focus on your organizational culture. Rest assured: It will be there when the time comes. And it may benefit from what human resource professionals call values blueprinting. This is when people from across an organization get together to take an organization's “pulse.” They may even form a values committee to decide whether the culture reflects the owner's vision – and how to make the subtle but important tweaks that will affect the final product. |