My first LinkedIn posts were about what I believe to be key elements of an exceptional corporate culture (a particular passion of mine). Enough time has passed that it seems appropriate to revisit them. .
Take care of our people…take care of business – in that order. The people we work with and their loved ones must take precedence. It is only with healthy and engaged employees that we can relentlessly focus on serving our customers.
Have fun – take your work seriously, but not yourself. The workplace is best served when it encourages a lighthearted and whimsical working environment, where employees are free to embrace humour and occasional silliness.
Work isn’t everything – it’s true. We must help you maintain your proper work/life equilibrium.
Jerks are not welcome (no matter how talented they are) – the workplace is made up of people with diverse backgrounds, interests, personalities and philosophical bents. Respect and appreciation for each other and our differences is vital.
Say it – everyone must feel free to express their ideas, concerns and failures regardless of their position in the organization. It’s the only way we will get better.
There is no me in team – well, technically there is. But there is no “me” in the way people should serve their customers (both internal and external). Always strive to work together.
We never lose…there is only success or learning – business is about taking risks. If we are not reaching beyond what is easy or safe, we will not grow as a company. Or as people, for that matter. While we don’t strive for failure, we embrace it when it inevitably happens and learn. Always turning failure into a lesson to be learned.
There must always be one – accountability is fundamental to our success. Every task, project or process must have a single owner. This ensures what needs to get done is done, we learn from our failures and constantly strive to make things better.
Insufficient facts always invite danger – decisions should be based on facts, not assumptions or perceptions. However, this comes with a warning. Decision velocity matters as well. Always balance the two.
Be curious, not judgmental – always remember what you see or experience might not be the entire story. Before you rush to judgment, take a moment to ask questions and understand the why.
Another well thought out post.
I recently had a very bad experience as a customer from a company with bad leadership and a toxic corporate culture.
Corporate culture matters and it’s not just some ‘buzz words’. It can mean the difference between a satisfied customer and one who tells their friends and family to “run” fast and far away.