Every business has a culture that is all their own. That culture can be good or bad, positive or negative, effective or ineffective. Culture is defined as, “…the ideas, skills, customs, skills, arts, etc. of a group that are transferred, communicated, or passed along”. In essence, culture is what is shared by the team. Culture is not tangible. Rather, it is a sense of and for what the group is out to achieve and then following shared strategies to reach a common goal. If your team is aligned with the vision and mission of the owner, it is highly likely that together they will act in unison in daily activities toward a common outcome or outcomes (increased revenue, controlled expenses, attentive customer service, increased productivity and efficiency).
Changing or creating culture in a business can be quite complex and daunting. Where does one begin? Start simply by communicating with team members:
- The vision and mission of the business
- A clear plan with goals, strategies, and action steps
- Expectations of individuals and their role in achieving the shared goals
- Changes in attitudes necessary for a cohesive team
The culture created by implementing these steps will be positive, productive, and (not surprisingly) more upbeat.
