Whenever you start your own business, there are always a few fundamental factors to address, in addition to the infinite amount of small details. One of these is the creation of your company culture. Your company culture determines your professional values and the personality of your company for your employees and consumers. It affects all aspects of the way your company does business, from turnover rate to capital allocation to marketing and more. Establishing the right company culture will also help you recruit the right candidates whose objectives and values align with you company’s; when you’re just setting up shop, this is an indispensable asset.
Your company culture can take a practically endless amount of forms, from light-hearted to team-oriented to authoritative to socially conscious to everything in between. It is the heart and soul of your business and will drive all decisions you make for years to come. The good news is that you have the power the shape your corporate culture and change it over time. It’s tied heavily to the kind of leader you want to be and what you wish to accomplish with your business. Are you a soap company looking to do your part to save the environment? Are you a tech company looking to make your mark through innovation? Either way your company culture lets your employees know what they’re in for when they work for your company.
Establishing a strong company culture is particularly important for start-ups. It’s one of the main elements that will distinguish your business from others in the industry. So as you’re getting ready to set up shop and stake your claim in the business world, ask yourself two things: “What do I want to say to my customers and employees; and how do I want to say it?”
