If you run a business or manage a team at your organization, there’s a good chance that you understand the importance of cultivating and maintaining a strong company culture. When you have a great culture, attracting and retaining talented employees is much easier.
That said, understanding the value of company culture isn’t the same as understanding how to develop one. Thus, it’s a good idea to review examples of organizations that have developed their own thriving cultures. They can inspire you as you cultivate your own.
Specifically, you may want to draw inspiration from the following:
Google has a reputation for developing a culture that engages its workforce on a consistent basis for a simple reason: Google demonstrates how an organization can rise to success in its field while providing employees with a fantastic environment in which to work.
The tech titan has achieved this goal in several ways. Of course, Google offers its workforce a range of attractive perks, including free meals and trips. These perks certainly represent smart and simple ways that companies can ensure their workers remain happy and committed over the long term.
However, this is by no means the only reason why Google’s culture has such a strong reputation. Google is also a noteworthy example of a company with a positive culture because its leaders have been willing to adapt to changes. After all, the company has grown substantially and rapidly in a fairly short period of time. This means that its employees vary in age, location, interests, talents, experience, and more.
Attempting to maintain the culture of a business so that it always mirrors that in its initial startup phase isn’t always ideal. While it is important for a corporate culture to be rooted in core values, it’s also important for the culture to grow and evolve with the company. Google’s culture has because, along with offering perks, its leaders emphasize the company’s goals: developing and implementing creative solutions for Internet users of all kinds across the globe. This has helped the company to attract employees who, while they may be different in many ways, share a passion for innovation.
Apple
Apple is another major tech company that has long been known for leveraging its distinctive company culture in a manner that inspires employees to perform to the best of their ability. This may come as no surprise when you consider that, since the early days of the late Steve Jobs’ tenure, Apple’s leaders have consistently sought to become the best.
This is key to the success of a business such as Apple. Apple has risen to the top because it is not satisfied with the status quo. Possessing employees who are committed to innovation, the company aims to be the best and to provide customers with high-quality products. Moreover, the company consistently seeks to improve upon products that are currently on the market.
By motivating its employees to try to be the best, Apple has developed a strong and engaged workforce. Apple’s employees are not content to deliver less than their strongest efforts. This is key to the company’s long-term relevance.
REI
Many factors contribute to a business’ success. That said, businesses thrive when their employees are passionate about their industry.
This is one of the reasons why REI has become one of the more well-known outdoor lifestyle and sports brands in the world. REI has attracted employees who love what they do in a variety of ways. For instance, REI employees often have the opportunity to win free gear from the company. This makes it easier for the company to attract the types of employees who appreciate and understand the value of the products that it sells.
Additionally, REI frequently enables employees to submit anonymous questions and suggestions to managers and to share their ideas for how the company can improve. It’s worth noting that allowing for this type of input has often been shown to have a positive impact on employee engagement. Employees are simply more engaged when they feel that their voices are being heard. This is another way in which REI attracts employees seeking to develop a stronger understanding of the industry in which they work.
None of this is to suggest you should model your culture on these examples. On the contrary, your culture should be a natural extension of your values. These examples merely demonstrate how others have succeeded in a vital way.
Bill Malloy 