"We're a culture-first company."
"We're building a culture of innovation."
"Culture is our competitive advantage."
Culture is one of the most pervasive buzzwords in the contemporary job market, but what does it really mean?
So many companies give lip service to culture but fail to back it up with actual employee experiences. Other companies add free snacks in the break room and offer flexible workdays, calling it culture—but that misses the mark. Despite its overuse in the business lexicon, company culture matters and goes far beyond cool office perks.
As the best executive coaches will tell you, culture is your company's identity. Culture is your shared values, principles and goals. It's the heartbeat of your business.
You don't need in-house gyms, cafeterias or exotic vacation benefits to build a company where team members are valued and invested. No matter your company size, no matter your industry—you have the power to build a raving-fan company culture.
The secret to raving-fan company cultures? Purpose. And connection. Because when people feel connected to something bigger than themselves, they stop working for a paycheck and start working for a cause.
What does it mean to have raving fan employees? Raving fan employees are engaged, aligned and invested in the company vision. They don't work because they have to, but because they want to.
Here's how you know when you've built that kind of culture…:
- Employees rave about the company— because they're proud of where they work. They share it with friends, family and neighbors because it's part of who they are..
- Team members go above and beyond since they are invested in the mission.
- Employees attract others and bring in top talent—they love where they work.
- Everyone, from the top to the bottom, feels empowered to give honest, constructive feedback because they care about the company's progress.
- Every team member embodies the brand. How they treat customers, coworkers, and even themselves reflects the company's values and vision.
- Team members feel connected to the mission, their team, their own progress and especially to the customers.
What's your purpose?
If you're reading and thinking you want this raving fan culture for your company, start with purpose.
Purpose is what gets employees excited to come to work. It makes their work about more than just punching a time clock and collecting a paycheck.
People find meaning and joy in their work when they are a part of something bigger than themselves. When aligned with a purpose and given ownership, employees will rise to the occasion and exceed your expectations.
A clear purpose unites teams and propels them toward growth and success. So, what is your mission? Your company doesn't have to deliver fresh water to Africa or build homes for single parents to focus on a greater purpose.
Wal-Mart's mission statement is "To save people money so they can live better." Even as a massive retail giant, its focus is on improving people's lives.
UPS's mission is "Moving our world forward by delivering what matters." They don't just deliver packages. Their vision acknowledges the emotional power of what they do. The contents of those packages matter to people around the world.
You might think that Goldman Sachs is purely focused on making money, but its mission is "to advance sustainable economic growth and financial opportunity across the globe." Its mission is to create a positive global impact.
When you inspire your team with a bigger purpose, they will feel pride in their work and be driven to take ownership.
Create connection
Loyalty and passion are the result of genuine connection. Employees need to feel connected both to the people they work with and to a greater vision.
Employees who feel seen and valued are empowered to make decisions and take risks.They feel a real sense of ownership and will make meaningful contributions to drive your company's growth.
Your most valuable resource is the people you surround yourself with. If you inspire, empower, and lead them with vision, there's no limit to what you can achieve together.
Of course, the most effective companies aren't always in harmony. A great company culture doesn't guarantee a workplace without conflict. But when employees feel valued, connected and empowered, they will have the foundation and tools to work through any challenge.
Truly great cultures are places where team members face problems, have tough conversations and navigate challenges together in an open and honest environment. When people are connected with each other through a common purpose, obstacles become stepping stones to success.
As a leader, your role is to create an environment of purpose and connection. Leadership is the linchpin of any business success because the chokehold on any business is the psychology and skills of its leader.
Leadership coaching to take you to the next level
True leadership is not based on power or position, but on your ability to influence others. It is a skill that you have to learn, practice and hone like anything else. And it is a skill that has the potential to transform your business from an average company to a wildly successful one.
Coaching for leadership development can unlock potential you didn't even know you had. With the assistance of an experienced coach, you'll develop the leadership skills to increase connection, trust and influence with your team in the best possible way. It's not just an investment in yourself, it's an investment in the lasting success of your company.
"To influence others, you have to know what already influences them."
Leadership starts with love. That means you believe in your employees and are committed to helping them grow. To influence them, you have to get to know your team members. You have to understand their worldview, know their strengths, desires and unique talents and see them as valuable contributors to your team.
Your team members can tell when you genuinely care about them; when you do, they will respond with loyalty and commitment.
Effective leaders go beyond managing. They leverage their team's skills and talents to create systems that can thrive without them. They empower their team members to take on ownership and responsibility and then follow through with support and accountability to ensure their success.
Business coaching and mentoring give you the support and accountability to perform your best as a leader. A business coach will help you identify your strengths and show you which tasks and responsibilities you can let go of so you can best leverage your team's talents and time.
The best leaders develop other leaders, not just followers. When you empower your team to take initiative and create impact, you'll experience breakthroughs in your company.
That kind of leadership drives productivity and innovation while building loyalty and commitment. Great leadership is the backbone of a raving fan company culture.
Clarity is power
Leaders build trust when they are confident and clear in their vision and expectations. Nobody wants to guess at what is expected of them. If your employees don't understand your vision or their job, that's your responsibility as a leader.
Employees can only take ownership and thrive when they know exactly what you expect of them. Clear communication, expectations and regular follow-ups allow employees to take on responsibility without you needing to micro-manage.
As we said above, culture is a company's shared values, principles, and goals. Raving fan employees are team members who are engaged and aligned with that vision. Clarity is the driving force that will align your team with your vision.
Clarity means that expectations are visible and your team knows what success looks like.
Make sure that everyone on your team knows:
- What the mission is
- What their role is
- Why their role and the mission matter
Teams that are crystal clear on the company vision and their job don't need you to manage their every task. They are invested and prepared to create impact on their own.
Only you can awaken your hunger to become the leader you are capable of. But a professional coach can streamline the process, accelerating your growth so it takes months—not years.
With a coach's strategies, perspective and accountability, you can define your company purpose, increase connection and communicate with clarity. Your team will come to work every day excited to take initiative and contribute to a meaningful cause. You'll be better equipped to leverage their individual talents and skills, creating a culture of ownership.
Before you know it, you'll have a company with raving fan employees. This will lead to raving fan customers because happy, satisfied employees go out of their way to serve clients and customers.
"The most valuable resource you have is the people you surround yourself with. If you inspire them, empower them and lead them with vision, there's no limit to what you can achieve together."
