Key Takeaways:
Define what is important to you and your business, and define your core values.
Your core values should translate into your company culture.
Creating an environment where your team feels valued and heard creates a stronger culture.
Before starting this growth journey, it’s essential to ask yourself, “Who are we?” regarding your practice. This applies to any business out there. It is critical to understand your company’s identity. Who are you? What are your values? Also, how is your company culture? Piecing these questions together helps create a clear picture and define your company.
Your core values
Core values help establish the company’s vision and shape the culture. Ask yourself, “What is important to me and my practice? What do we want for our guests?” Defining your goals is the first step in determining your core values. You must know what beliefs and principles are most
important to you and your business.
Once your goals and expectations are clearly defined, writing out your core values is easier. Each decision you make should be in alignment with these values.
Your core values let employees, prospective employees, and guests know who you are as a company. It’s clearly essential for your team to know the company's core values. However, creating a clear picture for prospective employees is critical. If you have standout core values and showcase who you are as a company, it will resonate well with potential new hires.
There are a few different ways you can structure your core values. Using an acronym is easy to help your team remember your core values. Of course, you don’t have to do it this way. Let’s look at an example of some core values.
One of our clients uses the acronym CHASE to lay out its core values.
This client's goal is to provide the best possible service to their guests with a team bringing their very best for each client daily. Their values clearly outline what they want for their guests and what they expect from their team.
The company culture—it’s essential
A good culture is critical to running a successful business, no matter what business it is. Culture impacts every aspect of your business, from how your team performs to public perception. If the culture in your practice isn’t there, your practice could suffer in more ways than one.
Here are three ways culture impacts your business:
1. Culture defines your company’s identity.
Put simply, your culture is a direct reflection of how you do business. It reflects how you treat your team and your guests. Your core values also play into this. The culture should be a direct reflection of your core values. Your team will notice if your values don’t align with the company culture.
2. A good culture helps build a strong team.
This is arguably the most essential aspect of culture in your business. If you want a happy team, having a great culture is critical. If you run your business true to your core values and show your team appreciation for their work, your culture should be strong. A great culture creates happy employees who believe in the business and work together as a team. Not only that, your team will perform better.
3. A great culture helps with recruiting talent and the onboarding process.
When looking for jobs, many people way the company culture heavily when interviewing. You might think, “Are they a good fit for my business?” But they will also ask themselves, “Is this company a good fit for me?” An excellent company culture will stand out to prospective employees. The goal is to have an incredible culture that people want to be a part of.
How to have a great culture
So, what does a good company culture look like? Well, there are several ways you can foster a great culture as a business owner and leader.
Promote positivity
You can’t have a great culture without positivity. That’s the first piece of the puzzle. Positivity shows itself in many forms in the workplace. As a leader, do you show up daily with a positive attitude toward your team? Or do you come with a bad attitude and criticism?
Showing up ready to uplift and encourage your team will make work feel more welcoming. It’s also important to promote positivity amongst your team. Not everyone will always agree or get along at work, but it’s best to encourage positivity and respect.
Have team-building events
A great way to foster a fun and positive company culture is through team-building activities and events. Often times in the workplace, people work together without really getting to know one another. Sometimes this creates a less-than-ideal atmosphere. Having regular events like team meals or after-work events gives your team a chance to bond and get to know one another. In turn, you’ll have a stronger company culture.
Show appreciation
Ultimately, you want your employees to feel good about coming to work. One of the most important aspects of a good company culture is ensuring your employees feel valued and taken care of. Do you show your team appreciation for the work they do? When someone does something great, do you recognize them for it? Do you listen to them when they come to you with suggestions or concerns? If your team feels valued and appreciated, they will feel great about coming to work daily.
Give them a sense of purpose
Leading with purpose and giving your team a sense of purpose creates a more fulfilling experience. Now more than ever, people are searching for work that has meaning and purpose. Without purpose, many lose interest in their work. In dentistry, it’s evident that our work has a significant impact on the lives of our guests. Be sure to regularly share stories and positive experiences from guests who had an amazing or life-changing experience at your practice. This will continually remind your team how impactful their work is.
Are you happy with your company identity?
If you are happy with your company’s core values and culture, that’s great. However, there’s always room for growth and improvement. Always strive to be the best leader you can be and create a workplace environment that people love to be a part of. If you find yourself struggling as a leader, start by taking a look at your values. From there, work on creating the best culture you can.
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