What are the best ways to maintain a strong organizational culture over time?

Preserving an organizational culture requires that it actually becomes owned by the organization across all levels. A strong and sustainable culture is exemplified by leadership, not commanded. Recognizing people at all levels of the organization for demonstrating the characteristics of the culture you wish to develop and maintain shows that cultural leadership comes from within the organization and becomes something "owned" by the whole. When the leadership leaves, the culture remains.

The key to preserving an organization's culture, in my opinion, is to cultivate an environment where everyone feels welcome and valued. Employee resource groups, diversity recruiting drives, and training on unconscious bias are all examples of programs that fall under this umbrella of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Facilitating an environment where employees feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and opinions in an atmosphere of mutual respect and acceptance fosters a more inclusive and productive work environment. Moreover, mentoring and coaching programs can help people advance in their careers while simultaneously fostering an environment where people feel supported and empowered.

Maintaining a strong organisational culture over time is like tending a garden; it requires consistent care and attention. From my journey, the key is open, continuous communication and genuinely valuing each team member's contribution. A study by Deloitte found that 94% of executives and 88% of employees believe a distinct workplace culture is important to business success. Regular feedback, celebrating milestones, and fostering a sense of belonging help keep the culture vibrant and strong. So, commit to nurturing your organisational culture every day!

There is only one main rule if you want to create a healthy and sustainable company culture and that is that you must practice what you preach and vice versa you must also preach what you practice. This creates trust and confident authenticity around you which will be a role modelling for others.

Preserving and maintaining the organization culture requires strong leadership that reflects the tapestry and fabric of the internal team as well as the community that we serve. There is no one way of accomplishing this. However, it requires resilience, empathy, purpose and dedication to making a difference each and every day in any form or shape. The outcome is measured by the impact and enabled by continuous improvement.

Prioritize clear communication, regular evaluation, employee development, strong leadership, a culture of accountability, flexibility, and feedback mechanisms. Adaptability is key in fostering a resilient and effective organizational framework over time.

In my opinion, building a successful organizational culture requires encouraging employees to be flexible and resilient. All levels of staff need to be encouraged to be adaptable, quick, and receptive to new ideas in order to achieve this goal. Organizations can better traverse changing market dynamics, technology breakthroughs, and competitive landscapes by implementing methods like change management, agile approaches, and continuous improvement. To keep up with changing times and seize new opportunities, businesses need to foster a culture that encourages people to try new things, make mistakes, and accept uncertainty as a part of the learning process.

To strengthen an organisational culture, it is essential to synchronise policies and practices with vision and values. This means reviewing and modernising processes and structures so that they are an authentic reflection of the culture. For example, adjusting hiring, training and evaluation methods to align with the fundamental principles. Recognition and reward should mirror the values, encouraging desired behaviours. Strategy and goals should be moulded around the culture, ensuring that every step moves in that direction. The complete integration of practices and policies with vision and values is the foundation for a robust and coherent organisational culture.

In my experience upholding your mission, vision, and guiding principles is foundational to maintaining your organizational culture amidst changes and challenges. Approach each obstacle with a steadfast commitment to your core values, ensuring that every decision and action aligns with your overarching purpose. By anchoring yourself in your mission and vision, you not only navigate uncertainties with clarity and resilience but also foster a sense of unity and purpose among team members. Through adaptability rooted in your core principles, you not only endure change but thrive, staying true to your identity and driving towards your collective goals.

Creating culture is not a "one and done" activity. It's constantly evolving both internally and externally. We tend to notice the internal factors, but we don't always pay attention to what's happening in our ecosystem. This is how an iconic brand like Kodak goes bankrupt. Periodically do an intentional reset and try to take an outside perspective to see what's actually going on in your organization. If an organization is growing, they shouldn't be in the same place the last time you checked.

Practice what you preach, give your employees the feeling that you have time for time to actively listen to their concerns and thoughts and challenges and then only act in the way of asking what kind of support you can provide in order to guide and coach them only so they reach their goals on their own. This creates an atmosphere for your employees that they will become self reliant and responsible for their own packages of goals and will also enjoy the appreciations rather than the manager who should avoid at all costs to micro manage because that’s the killer of trust and feeling valued and respected in the grand scheme of things.