Why Creating Culture is So Important
One of my favorite quotes from my mentor John C. Maxwell is:
“Don’t tell them what you’re going to do – that’s vision. Do what you are going to do – that’s culture.” – John C. Maxwell
Why am I writing about culture? Because every single day in my work with small and large businesses alike, I find one common theme that is the foundation for success and that is creating a healthy culture.
So, what does culture really mean? Company culture is the personality of a company. It defines the environment in which employees work. Company culture includes a variety of elements, including work environment, company mission, value, ethics, expectations, and goals. You can have a vision for your company and if you don’t have a culture that supports that vision, you will only get so far.
And, that doesn’t mean vision doesn’t matter. It does. They both matter….ALOT! However, as I mentioned earlier, culture is the foundation for all success in business, period and it’s the easiest process for you to implement that brings fast results in teamwork, productivity, employee retention and so much more.
Here are three ways vision and culture work together to achieve success from John:
- Vision is about “one day,” and culture happens every day.
This means that the people in an organization must be able to look toward both the future and the present. They need to know where they’ll eventually be and what to do every day to get there. It’s the leader’s job to articulate an inspiring vision for the future and make sure everyone in the organization does the right things day after day.
- Vision is described, and culture is modeled.
Vision can’t be demonstrated because it’s not yet a reality. But culture can be modeled, and it needs to be, from the top leader on down. Have you ever started working in a job where the grand vision that was shared by the top leader has nothing to do with what anyone actually does – including that leader? A leader and his or her team must act every day in a way that takes the organization in the direction of the vision. This is the only way the culture will infiltrate every layer of the organization.
- Vision aligns with values, and culture demonstrates them.
This is where vision and culture can most easily diverge. Most people’s grand visions align with equally grand values – for example excellence, honor, and follow-through. But there can often be a big difference between the values communicated by an organization’s vision, and the values demonstrated by their culture. It’s helpful to regularly examine the values being acted out by your culture. If your value is excellence, do people’s daily actions reflect that? Or do they indicate apathy?
Culture and vision need each other, so it’s important to give enough attention to both. So, when you share your dream with your people, make sure you teach them how to march.
Are you ready to take the first step to creating a culture with vision for big success? I’m here to help you walk through the process and help you implement the those steps in your business.
Stop settling for ordinary when you can experience the extraordinary!
Yours in leadership,
Emily Lindus