Popular media often portray company culture as the one-size-fit-all creator of competitive edge, the force behind huge success of many companies.
Job seekers nowaday even look for job based on whether they like the company’s culture. Companies play along by tooting their culture.
Consultants charge a hand and a leg to help companies define, align and execute their corporate culture strategy.What exactly is company culture?
Despite going through business school, working in company, I never fully grasp the slippery concept. But now I’m slowly finding out. Not by some Harvard framework or methology but by consistent hard work in the trench.
When I least expect it, the light illuminates and then I get the “aha”. Linking what was done unconsciously to what was commonly termed culture. Here’s my take on company culture.
For a small startup, company culture is nothing but what you do consistently. When you do something consistently often, the idea gets rubbed off on every member of the company. Soon it becomes the culture. Simple.
I often stressed initiative to my staff. Now, how do you instill a sense of initiative? Especially in a societal culture like China that do not encourage initiative. (My own subjective view but I believe many would agree.)
Simply by repeating it over and over and over and … over again. After that, lead by example.
Over the years, I found myself to be a better and better leader. And I’m proud. If the boss take initiative himself and he barked down initiative at every opportunity. Soon everyone gets the idea.
How many company can claim to start their culture from the very beginning and not get some hotshot to define the culture when they are already few thousand employees strong.
I hope I can.
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