Engage These Three Bright Sparks to Enliven Your

Anil Thomas

'Corporate Culture' is the new catchword in business circles off late, and with good reason.

A growing number of CEOs and directors have come to realize that if their organisation's intrinsic culture is not sturdy-if it is not centred on the right standards and objectives, and if it is not conducting itself in the right manner-then eventually that behaviour will become evident to the world outside.

One reads about "leaks” from demoralized employees penning sordid details through editorial pieces, such as in the case of Greg Smith from Goldman Sachs who revealed to the world about the cultural chaos within his company.

However, even if the situation does not get so out of control in such a dramatic fashion, over a period of time, an impaired corporate culture will probably impact all things -- from your organisation’s functioning to the way your brand is being comprehended.

In quoting Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, “The value of your company is driven by your company’s values.” -- The same is true.

So then, how does one give that much needed boost into one's company's culture? How can one inject new life or completely transform a dysfunctional culture that is sapping the joy and motivation of employees? How does one enliven a company culture from time to time, to ascertain that employees have similar standards and one mission? As the leader of your company, how do you re-create or restore that
awareness of "everybody going along one path, in unison?"

1. Bring In The Freshness

The aims and principles formulated by your business in a written statement does not get the job done; at the end of the day, mission statements are just plain words strung in sentences on bland white paper. Similarly, some CEOs may distribute memos or give stirring talks to their teams, which to a certain extent may prove effective-but at the end of the day it still comes down to plain words.

The best way to revitalize a company culture is to offer your people a brand new idea or novel principle they can adopt, muster up, and be impacted. Create an idea that is beyond words-it has to be significant, engrossing, and radical than just statements.

In a nutshell: Bring in the freshness factor through a crusade, a campaign!

2. Rise Above The Situation

Initiate the crusade around the belief that your organisation will ‘rise up’ to challenges. Fire up your own employees and get them invested in the campaign. This will be your opportunity to bring in innovation and establish new targets-a promising halt from deep-seated conventions and old means of conducting business. Challenge your employees to think about how this “Rise” idea might be employed or conformed to their own lives.

3. Make A Declaration

If you are attempting at rallying your workforce around a campaign, you should not indulge in foggy corporate technicalities. An idea initiating a crusade should be distinctly and effectively comprehensible. It is sometimes necessary to transform organisational guidelines and processes through specific movements, when you are introducing a crusade within a corporate culture. Remember the old adage: Actions speak louder than words.

In order to reinvigorate and re-focus on your own company culture, start with these 3 bright sparks. You will be amazed to see how the revolution starts from within.

Anil Thomas is the co-founder of Mustard Seed, a training academy for building teams and leaders

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