
Benjamin
๐๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐๐น๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐๐ต?
Updated: Feb 19

Your culture, formed by values and reinforced by strong leadership, impacts the business plan, customer acquisition, and financial model.
A fixed culture also informs and simplifies decisions by helping to narrow your options and then to draw support for tough decisions.
A healthy culture will keep employees engaged and productive, carrying over into their client interactions and public advocacy.
โ๐พ๐ช๐ก๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐ ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ก๐ฎ ๐จ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฉ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ง๐ค๐ก ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐ช๐ง.โ โ David Cummings
You may be tempted to build a culture based on what you think other people want. Instead, be authentic to yourself and your dream.
๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ป๐๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐๐๐น๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ
Reflect on your vision, mission, and values both early and regularly. These may evolve over time but should not fundamentally change.
From there, consider these steps:
ยท Insert your values into recruitment, evaluations, promotions, client acquisition, and branding. Revisit culture during tough decisions.
ยท Determine how employees will be treated. Culture should define meaning despite turbulent growth and harsh change.
ยท Identify which traits define your company and are non-negotiable. Some may include autonomy, ownership, influence, and meritocracy.
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐๐น๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ
Once in place, company culture still needs nurturing.
ยท Engage Employees. For instance, if you want to motivate learning, offer trainings, network groups, and weekly blocks without meetings.
ยท Be Consistent. Ensure your actions, policies, and content always are aligned with your culture.
ยท Review Regularly. At least annually, determine if your culture is adhering to the original intention through meetings and surveys.
๐๐๐๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐บ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐
You need to find your own path, but I recommend you consider the value of autonomy and accountability.
Autonomy is a key driver of human motivation, performance, and fulfillment. It combines flexibility with responsibility.
Accountability is respecting others' dedication by showing results.
Pair autonomy with accountability to encourage personal development and business growth.
Some authoritarian founders want to be inflexible while caring founders donโt want to enforce results. My position is to care about people AND respect their work by holding everyone responsible.
Balance employeesโ independence (as much as they can handle) with high expectations (as high as you can go).
A company can grow wildly without a great culture but will face unnecessary tension as a fallout during periods of scale.
A strong culture guides company decisions and employee choices.