Talk to any small business owner and you’ll hear their top challenge is retention. According to some researchers they would agree showing that retention, engagement, and culture are in the top challenges facing business leaders.
So, what is culture and why is it important for small businesses?
A company culture is a system of shared vision, purpose, values, assumptions, and beliefs. It’s also a set of unwritten rules that influence social norms. Newcomers are often expected to learn these unwritten rules. They often learn what is acceptable or not by observing the protocols or through others already in the group.
Culture can be a defining factor in your company’s success or failure. If company culture is unclear to the business owner, existing employees and new hires will determine it. That’s quite a hit-or-miss tactic that can cause a rotating door of new hires eating into your profitability.
When I work with clients, we are able to distinguish their culture not only by defining key cultural alignment factors but also by learning about the team’s natural wiring. For example, one of my client’s leadership team has two common hardwiring elements in common. They all have a high sense of urgency (impatient) and have a high degree of autonomy. With this mix of wiring, they are inclined to push themselves and others for immediate results.
What do you think was this company’s hidden culture created from this leadership team’s hardwiring mix of urgency and autonomy?
Their staff found the greatest rewards came by delivering results quickly and in silos. Rather than departments collaborating, people made independent decisions to get results.
This autonomous, results-driven organization found itself operating in less-than-ideal productivity and profitability. There was often rework because decisions were made quickly without inter and intra-departmental collaboration.
My clients discovered the impact of their natural wiring in shaping the company culture. Once the influence of the wiring was distinguished, we were able to set up a powerful framework to align what they say their values were and demonstrate those values in action.
When you are clear on your team’s hardwiring along with your key cultural alignment factors you start to get to the root of cultural alignment.
Inspired to learn more?
Discover your and your team’s natural wiring and create your company’s culture by identifying your key cultural alignment factors at:
WORKSHOP: Wired to Win! Your Path to Passion, Purpose and Profit
DATE: Thursday-Friday, May 18-19, 2017
LOCATION: Excellerate Associates – 42180 Ford Road, Canton, MI 48187
(Limited spots avaiable for out-of-state attendees who join live workshop by web).