The word culture has come to mean a lot of different things in recent years. At its core, though, the purpose of culture in the workplace is to ensure that everyone who works with you believes their work matters and that they have the freedom to pursue their goals at your company. If you want to lead your employees, it’s important to let them know why the work they do matters. We need to be creating deeper meaning. Especially, if someone’s work doesn’t seem to connect directly with the bottom line or daily responsibilities.
One of the most significant ways that a company’s leadership can show their employees that their work has deeper meaning is by helping to shape their company culture. In his book Conscious Capitalism, John Mackey (the co-founder and co-CEO of Whole Foods Market) outlined 5 components of conscious capitalism: Conscious Leadership, Stakeholder Orientation, Purpose-Driven Companies, Conscious Culture and Higher Purpose.
A company with a strong sense of culture and an emphasis on values will attract and retain top talent. Onboarding employees is also key to maintaining your culture’s momentum. Top-performing companies invest in helping new hires grow. Not only that, they understand their roles in relation to other employees’ roles and become confident leaders in their own right. It isn’t enough for top leadership to make statements about company values; those values must be practiced and enacted at every level of the organization.
Where do you find meaning in your work? We all want to feel like we’re working for something bigger than ourselves, whether it’s a good cause or a strong brand. But what if you could create an environment where employees found meaning in their jobs on a daily basis? This means, leading people who know they’re working toward something bigger can go a long way in establishing company culture.
The first step to building company culture is sharing your vision with your team members. In fact, without an inspiring vision, it might be impossible to build a solid company culture. By creating an environment where team members feel empowered and connected to a shared vision, you’ll empower them to do their best work in an environment that they enjoy being in. This can make all of the difference when it comes time for your employees to shine and help your business grow!
Purpose is fast becoming the new standard of the working world. See why here.