Culture - A Silent Force in Business

Culture is the way things are done in a business or family. It includes the things that a set of people have come to understand and imbibe as part of their belief system, values and attitudes commonly accepted. In the process of determining the values that the business must run by, the leaders are creating a business culture which will be passed on from one generation to the next. The common habits of leaders and followers can slowly be en-grafted to become the core of beliefs that people hold on to more than the actual values spelt out in documents. People act, say, believe and respond to what they see being done more than what they hear leaders say or proclaim.

How to build a good culture:

Culture

- Leaders should lead by example - the things that leaders desire followers to live by they must be the first people to act on and show or model for the followers.

Culture - A Silent Force in Business

- A high level of accountability is necessary across the board. Everyone must be accountable to the next person. When people can boldly look each other in the eye and say without mincing words the areas where other people are messing up then a new culture can develop.

- Avoid victimization - In the process of creating a new culture, people must feel free to contribute without feeling that what they say will be used against them in the future.

- Reward good culture - Those employees who excel in modeling the culture and values must be rewarded. People will know which peers to copy or follow.

- Respect each other's views - A new culture can easily be built if there is respect for each other's opinion. Not every opinion is adopted but people have a right to be heard. They feel that they have a contribution to make towards a new way of doing things. A culture that is imposed on people is usually repelled by them. They will not easily adopt or accept it.

- Document important issues - It is easy to forget issues that are discussed in meetings without a deliberate effort to document the issues. A new culture must be written down. It is the same as crafting a constitution in our minds. It will never be a part of the people until it is documented and people feel they have a reference point

- Do not rush - take your time - Change of culture is not an overnight thing. People are still used to the old way of doing things. Change must be gradual not immediate and abrupt.

Culture - A Silent Force in Business