How To Improve Your Corporate Culture

Honored to host a guest post by one of Canada’s top business process & productivity experts,  Adriana Girdler, PMP, President, Cornerstone Dynamics   

Irene Becker, Just Coach It- | 3Q Leadership Blog-25,000+ Social Media Followers & Growing!

Resolutions  allow us an opportunity to reflect on the past and decide what and how we’ll do things in the future. Yours could be losing those stubborn last 10 pounds, eating well or spending more time with family and friends. Ultimately, our resolutions are about improving the quality of our lives.

Resolutions aren’t just for individuals though. Companies can (and should) look at the quality of life of the organization. By reflecting on the past year activities, we should ask, “How is our corporate culture doing?”

Why focus on corporate culture?

A positive corporate culture lends to a more productive and happy workforce, resulting in increased efficiency in the office. Why is this important? Because increase efficiency leads to increase productivity, which ultimately improves the bottom line. Have you ever seen an organization where the culture is negative and the company is doing really well? I haven’t either.

Negativity breeds inefficiency.

When corporate culture is ignored, like a dripping faucet, it may not seem like a big deal at the moment. As time goes by, the drip becomes more annoying, particularly late at night when the dripping sound amplifies and makes it hard for you to sleep. You’re tired and cranky the next day, making it hard to function. All this from a simple little drip of the faucet.

The same can be said for corporate culture. Over time, the little things become bigger and can create a negative environment, which hurts morale. If your employee’s morale isn’t positive, productivity and efficiency are likely also missing.

In order improve your corporate culture, you’ll need to examine it and put plans in place to allow it to grow. Positive corporate culture doesn’t happen by itself.

So how can you create a positive corporate culture?

Make it a habit to review your corporate culture yearly. Every year organizations hold strategy and planning sessions for their products. They put a lot of time and attention to ensuring they’re promoting their services or products according to their strategy. Why not include reviewing the corporate culture at this time too?

Make corporate culture improvement initiative a priority. Companies say they’re improving the culture but ideas and projects for culture improvement get lost in the shuffle of day to day business. Don’t let this happen to you. For tips and tricks, read my blog on how to prioritize.

Change your mind set from “nice to have” to “need to have” regarding corporate culture. This can be hard to do, especially if your organization hasn’t examined its culture before. But everything is possible when you realize the benefits of having a positive corporate culture.

 

About the Author:

Adriana Girdler is the President of CornerStone Dynamics Inc and an expert in business efficiency, helping leading corporations streamline internal processes to work smarter and improve productivity. Learn more about Adriana Girdler.  Connect with Ms. Girdler on twitter @adrianagirdler

More on Improving Corporate Culture?  YOU Betcha
The Individual and Organizational Imperative to DO Good
Meaningful Work:  Building a Management and Leadership Must
The Thriving Organization-Ten Powerful Steps
Ten Steps to Employee Engagement
Ten Ways to Lead Forward in Times of Complexity and Change
What is a Community of Purpose?
Leadership Means Building a Community of Purpose
7 Ways to Turn Conflict/Communication Problems Around
Good Business and Teambuilding | Our First Customers Are Our Staff and Teammembers
Three Toxic Team Members to Get Off Your Team
Optimize-Humanize-Monetize
The 3Q Leader-Building the 3Q Leadership Skills YOU Need Now

And, more…Great Read Excerpts and Reviews
Managing With A Conscience by Frank Sonnenberg
Business At The Speed Of Now by John M Bernard
The Power of Communication by Helio Fred Garcia
Full Steam Ahead by Jesse Lyn Stoner and Ken Blanchard

 

I am committed to helping smart people and organizations use changes-challenges-strengths to optimize and catalyze their potential to communicate & LEAD FORWARD.  Use changes and challenges to improve communication, management, leadership…career success?  Yes, the proof is in ten years of inspiring and outstanding results! 

Irene Becker | Just Coach It-The 3Q Edge™ |  IQ-EQ-SQ for Reach-Resonance-Results
Executive Coaching, Consulting, Training and Keynotes with a 3Q Edge™ 
Face to face and/or virtually by telephone, video conferencing or skype!
3Q Leadership Blog- 25,000+ Social Media Followers & Growing 
irene@justcoachit.com  Twitter @justcoachit
Tel: (1) 416-671-4726   Skype: beckerirene