The 6 and a Half Ingredients for a Thriving Corporate Culture

Business owners and managers wonder what the recipe is for a thriving corporate culture. Here are the six and a half ingredients our culture consultants aim to provide:

1. Lived Values

Companies don’t operate without people, and it’s difficult to attract, recruit, and motivate without a strong set of company values. Values set the tone for workplace behaviour and can inform decisions, tasks, performance reviews, disciplinary action, and ultimately, corporate culture. Six and a Half’s values are community, people, and innovation, and it’s important that our clients align with these.

Employees won’t be the right fit for a company if they just want a job, and they will leave sooner than later if their personal values don’t match up with where they work.

2. Shared Purpose

Simon Sinek’s TEDx talk, “Start with why: how great leaders inspire action,” was viewed over seven million times. He says, “People don’t buy what you do; people buy why you do it.”

It’s important for companies to communicate their “WHY”: Why they exist, what their belief or cause is, and what their purpose is. Not only to customers but to all stakeholders. When there’s a shared purpose between employees and the company, workplace culture thrives.

3. A Strategic Action Plan

Most companies are competent at developing strategy, but without consistent action and accountability provided by a culture consultant or executive coach, the strategy will fail.

Leaders who want great corporate cultures need to know not only where the company’s going, but what each individual’s roles and responsibilities are toward achieving those shared goals.

4. Leadership Development

In Dare to Lead, Brene Brown defines a leader as anyone who “takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes, and who has the courage to develop that potential.” Leaders must have, or want to grow these skills:

• EQ: Emotional Quotient, also known as emotional intelligence, is a measure of a leader’s interpersonal and communication skills.
• Empathy: Leaders need to understand, be aware of or sensitive to, and vicariously experience the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of team members.
• Conflict resolution: Leaders must have methods or processes to facilitate a peaceful end to conflict in the workplace.
• Ability to build trust: Others need to be confident and able to rely on the character, ability, and truth of a leader.

5. Executive Coaching Skills

Any conversation between a manager and an employee can be a coaching opportunity. Asking questions, listening, and helping employees see a way to move forward are valuable skills that help teams become more self-reliant and develop critical thinking skills.

6. Storytelling

Good stories aren’t reserved for the marketing department or lunch breaks; they’re used in sales and to connect employees with each other and their managers. Stories establish common ground and authenticity in speakers, say a lot about who people are, and develop empathy. We all have the potential to inspire others about our shared futures every time we tell a story, which is why it’s crucial for building a thriving corporate culture—especially when many people work in front of a screen.

The half

“Get off of the dance floor and look at your operation from the balcony.” – Ron Heifetz

Employees have to work and evaluate their performance. Leaders need to monitor teams and track progress. Teams must both participate and observe results, and finally, calibrate and respond.

Seeing from different perspectives is the extra ingredient that makes corporate culture thrive; doing these two things at the same time is an art.

Contact our culture consultants in Vancouver today if we can help you build a thriving workplace.