How You Can Make Your Company's Culture More Than Just Talk
Alison Stewart
I help MSP leaders and emerging managers to build self-aware, high-performing teams, so they can lead confidently, reduce stress, and reclaim their time for growth and balance.| GiANT Guide | MSP Owner |
Ever noticed how "culture" becomes a buzzword on LinkedIn and in meeting rooms, tossed around like a hot potato but not really making an impact day-to-day? It seems we're all on a quest for this cultural Holy Grail, but what does it truly mean? How do we make company culture more than, well, just a buzzword?
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When Total Group embraced EOS a few years back, we spent an entire day deeply pondering our company values, refining them, and then adorning our walls with these beautifully articulated values. Fast forward to 2024, and despite their prominent display, few of us can recite them by heart, let alone claim they're woven into our daily routines and decisions. It’s a bit like knowing you should eat your veggies but opting for chips instead — veering off track is human, after all.
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We realised we needed a way to make our company culture tangible, something everyone could not only see and feel but get genuinely excited about.
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Back to Basics
We started by ensuring everyone understood what our culture and values truly stood for and why. It's like trying to win a game without knowing the rules — a near-impossible feat. That was our kickoff point, understanding and redefining the rules of our game.
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Making It Real
We transformed those ( dare I say ) yawn-worthy values into topics as engaging as your favourite coffee break chatter. We shared stories where our colleagues were not just employees but real heroes living these values. We envisioned a workplace where everyone acted in alignment with these values — a place everyone looks forward to being part of. Through brainstorming, we explored ways to infuse these values into our daily tasks, celebrating those who did it right.
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Keep It Going
Acknowledging that instilling culture isn’t a one-off task, we likened it to nurturing a plant — it needs consistent watering, a bit of sunshine, and perhaps a pep talk now and then. We committed to regular check-ins, celebrating our victories, and leading by example, choosing to call people up to higher standards, rather than calling them out.
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Here are my 5 Takeaways for Your Team
1. Understand Your Culture:
Grab some time together and clarify what your culture truly is. Think of it as creating your team’s playbook.
2. Make It Part of the Daily Chat:
Integrate your values into everyday conversations as easily as discussing last night's game or the latest series everyone’s hooked on.
3. Cheer Each Other On:
Spot a team member exemplifying your values in an exceptional way? Celebrate them. It’s like a virtual high-five for embodying what you stand for.
4. Keep the Ball Rolling:
Keep the momentum. Shine a light on your values in meetings, emails, or during that quick kettle chat.
5. Lead the Way:
Leaders, the spotlight’s on you. Show your team how it’s done; they’ll follow when they see you living out your shared values.
Every one of us might lose our bearings now and then, reducing our vibrant company culture to mere words on paper. But with a bit of effort, authentic conversations, and a sprinkle of fun, it’s possible to transform your culture into the heartbeat of your daily operations. It’s about making those values as instinctive as your morning coffee ritual.
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If you're looking to realign your team with your core values, I’m here to help. Let’s chat about running a 1.5-hour workshop that might just be the reboot you need.
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