Rethinking Company Culture: A Reflection for Leadership Teams
The culture of a company is not only a reflection of values and ethics but also a determinant of success and sustainability. As leaders, it's crucial to periodically pause and reflect: What is our company culture like? This reflection isn't just about identifying what we do well; it's about recognising areas for improvement and recommitting to our core values.
Understanding Company Culture
Company culture comprises the shared values, beliefs, and practices that characterise an organisation. It influences everything from decision-making processes and ethical practices to employee satisfaction and customer service. For a company, where the focus is on nurturing growth and facilitating transformation, the stakes are particularly high. The culture within such an organisation must not only preach but also practice integrity, transparency, and respect at all levels.
Why Question Your Company Culture?
To Align with Core Values: Over time, there can be a drift between stated values and day-to-day operations. Regularly questioning our culture helps ensure alignment with these core values, essential for maintaining trust with clients and employees.
To Foster Continuous Improvement: Company culture is dynamic, not static. What worked yesterday might not be enough today. Questioning our culture encourages continuous growth and learning, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of ethical coaching practices.
To Enhance Employee Engagement: A culture that reflects the values of its members will likely increase engagement and satisfaction. Employees need to feel heard and see their input reflected in the cultural evolution of the organisation.
To Build a Resilient Brand: A strong, positive company culture is a competitive advantage. It makes a business resilient in the face of challenges because it operates on a foundation of trust and mutual respect.
How to Question and Evaluate Your Company Culture
Conduct Surveys and Feedback Sessions: Regularly engage with employees through surveys, feedback sessions, and open forums. Encourage honest feedback on how they perceive the company culture and their suggestions for improvement.
Review Client Feedback: Clients are great mirrors for reflecting the true image of your company culture. Evaluate feedback regarding the interaction with the team, the advice provided, and the overall client experience to gauge how your culture translates externally.
Observe Leadership Behaviours: Leaders set the tone for company culture. Observe whether leadership behaviours promote the core values you wish to embody. Leaders must not only endorse values but also live by them visibly and consistently.
Audit Your Policies and Practices: Regularly review your policies and practices to ensure they promote a positive culture. This includes everything from hiring practices and employee benefits to client management and conflict resolution.
Facilitate Training and Development: Implement regular training sessions focused on ethics, communication, and leadership. This not only reinforces the cultural norms but also ensures that everyone is equipped to uphold them.
Moving Forward
As you question and refine your company culture, remember that change is a journey, not a destination. Each step taken towards improvement is a step towards a more ethical, successful, and sustainable business. Foster a culture that not only supports the best practices in your industry but also embodies them in every interaction within and outside the company. By doing so, you create an environment where everyone—employees, clients, and the community—thrives.
Questioning our company culture is not an admission of inadequacy; it's a brave, honest attempt to better ourselves continually. As an ethical coaching company, it's our duty to lead by example, ensuring our culture is as transformative internally as the services we provide externally, ask yourself, are you leading by example?
If you want support identifying or refining their company culture, please book a call with us to talk more about how we can support you.
*This post was written with the assistance of AI