Corporate or organizational culture renewal

Examining your corporate culture: Are you a good influence?

 
Chris Lytle, CSP, Author of The Accidental Salesperson
Here are two definitions of corporate culture. (1) The body of beliefs, values, norms, rules of conduct, ethics, history, stories, heroes and heroines, rituals, and other symbolic activities that provide meaning to the people of the company about the organization as a whole (American Management Association). (2) The way we do things around here (the definition for non-MBAs).

GMs can influence the culture of the entire company. Sales Managers have the ability to influence the micro-cultures of their departments. Here are seven components of corporate culture you can influence.

1) Practices

If the message you want to send is, "We want to keep good people here longer," look at your practices. Celebrating length of service (or not) is a practice. Celebrating company birthdays and giving an increasingly nicer present as the years go by tells employees that length of service means something. Awarding an extra week of vacation after five years of service is another practice to consider.

2) Myths

Your ability to influence the stories that are told to new employees is part of the process of setting the culture. Making sure that they understand something of the history and influence of the company in the market helps you create a semblance of stability in a whirlwind of change.

3) Ceremonies

GMs can use meetings or speeches to communicate vision and values, and celebrate team efforts, or not. You have a choice. Taking time to celebrate first or big orders is one example of a ceremony.

4) Symbols

How you distribute perks, titles, and even office furnishings influences the culture. Something as simple as a special parking place for the employee of the month sends a message. So does having special executive parking places closer to the building than the rest of the troops. Do you want to send the message that power has its privileges or that the first person to get to work gets the best space?

5) Power

Be aware that power and how it's used influences culture. Managers tend to use position power. Their attitude is, "I'm the boss, so do what I say." Leaders tend to use more personal power. They use the word "because" a lot. Leaders work to increase understanding and share information. How you use power as an executive generally passes down the line.

6) Systems

There are hard and soft systems, complex and simple ones. Hard systems include computers and other technology. Soft systems include meetings and committees. All are designed to get work done.

Consider your company's communications, paperwork, and customer service systems (if applicable), even systems for earning promotions and pay increases. How simple or complex these are will shape your culture.

Your company has a culture whether you choose to influence it or not. As the boss, you have a tremendous opportunity to influence the culture of your company. A strong culture can help you get superior performance out of average people. Spending time to influence "the way we do things around here" is a profitable investment of management time.