How can you maintain your company culture as your business grows?

As your business grows, you might face the challenge of maintaining your company culture and values. Your culture is the glue that holds your team together, motivates them to perform, and attracts new talent and clients. How can you preserve and strengthen your culture as you scale up your operations, add new locations, or hire more staff? Here are some tips to help you keep your culture alive and thriving.

1 Define your culture

The first step is to clearly define your culture and communicate it to everyone in your business. What are your vision, mission, values, and goals? How do you want your team to behave, collaborate, and serve your clients? How do you measure and reward success? Write down your culture statement and share it with your existing and new employees, as well as your stakeholders and partners. Make sure your culture is aligned with your strategy and reflects your competitive advantage.

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Rebecca James

Helping executive leaders master effective strategic planning and implement world-class communications & marketing.
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The best way to define your core values is to: 1) Limit the number of values to 3 or 4 so people can remember them - even better if your values are one word 2) Involve employees/staff in the process (survey, group mtgs, etc.) 3) Define 4-5 behaviors under each core value (e.g. TRUST: We follow through on our commitments).

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2 Hire for fit

One of the most important ways to maintain your culture is to hire people who fit and enhance it. When you recruit new staff, look beyond their skills and experience, and assess their personality, attitude, and values. Use behavioral and situational questions, as well as role-playing and simulations, to see how they would fit in your team and culture. Involve your current employees in the hiring process and get their feedback. Hire people who share your vision, respect your values, and contribute to your goals.

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3 Train and coach

Another way to maintain your culture is to train and coach your employees to understand and embody it. Provide regular and consistent training on your culture, values, and expectations, especially for new hires. Use coaching and mentoring to reinforce positive behaviors and correct negative ones. Provide feedback and recognition to your employees who demonstrate your culture in action. Encourage peer learning and sharing of best practices among your staff.

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Rebecca James

Helping executive leaders master effective strategic planning and implement world-class communications & marketing.
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Communicate your core values regularly (even when it seems like too much). For example, at the beginning of your monthly meetings, pick one value and go through the 4-5 supporting behaviors. If you have 4 core values, you will have covered that principle value 3x in a year. As important, if not more, LIVE these out genuinely as leaders.

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Beth Batts

President/CEO:Learning and Development Specialist & Instructional Design Expert,Trainer,Facilitator,Intersectional Advocate
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To foster a thriving company culture, aim to become the ultimate coach and mentor for your team. Begin by conducting regular training sessions that reflect your values and expectations, particularly for new members. Be aware of any shifts from the company's ethos, and use coaching and mentorship to guide individuals in the right direction. Acknowledge and appreciate those who embody and exemplify the vision of your culture, and offer constructive feedback to those who need more support and direction. Encourage learning opportunities and sharing of best practices to foster creativity and teamwork. As the culture captain, it's your responsibility to lead the way. Lead with authenticity and a clear supportive message of the cultural framework.

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4 Empower and engage

A strong culture is one that empowers and engages your employees to take ownership and initiative. Give your staff autonomy and flexibility to make decisions, solve problems, and innovate. Encourage them to voice their opinions, ideas, and concerns, and listen to them. Create a feedback loop that allows you to communicate with your employees, understand their needs and challenges, and address them. Foster a sense of belonging and community among your staff by organizing social events, team-building activities, and celebrations.

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5 Adapt and evolve

Finally, maintaining your culture does not mean being rigid or stagnant. Your culture should be able to adapt and evolve as your business grows and changes. Monitor and evaluate your culture regularly, using surveys, interviews, or focus groups. Identify any gaps or issues that might affect your culture, such as conflicts, turnover, or dissatisfaction. Seek feedback from your employees, clients, and partners on how to improve your culture. Be open to change and innovation that can enhance your culture and performance.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you maintain your company culture as your business grows?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Define your culture

2 Hire for fit

3 Train and coach

4 Empower and engage

5 Adapt and evolve

6 Here’s what else to consider

Practice Management

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How can you maintain your company culture as your business grows?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Define your culture

2 Hire for fit

3 Train and coach

4 Empower and engage

5 Adapt and evolve

6 Here’s what else to consider

Practice Management

Rate this article

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