Corporate culture

Like this article? PLEASE +1 it!

Corporate culture Tagged Articles

Corporate Culture
What defines your corporate culture is not just your beliefs as the owner or VP of the company, but the collective beliefs of every single person who is a part of the company.

Creating Corporate Culture

Culture is a natural phenomenon that is created when a group of individuals, who share a common purpose or goal, work together to collaborate. It is created out of common thoughts, goals and attitude that commonly exist within the group. When such culture presents itself in organizations, it is known as organizational viz. corporate culture. This article brings out the various means in which a good corporate culture can be created and sustained.

Detox Your Corporate Culture

Just because people don't leave your organization doesn't mean the culture is constructive. In high-paying, benefit-rich industries employees can feel obligated to stay even though they are dying on the inside. Instead judge your culture on the level of sick days taken, the enthusiasm with which employees conduct themselves, the amount and pace of change and innovation. If these areas are lower than you like, chances are your corporate culture is sapping the life out of your employees.

How Leadership and Corporate Culture Impact Profitability

Turns out leadership isn't just a feel good thing. It drives the bottom line. A constructive culture is one where there is a sense of achievement, challenge, growth, encouragement and humanistic relationships. Organizations with a constructive culture had consistently higher profit margins. Aggressive cultures (very task/numbers driven without support/encouragement) have the most erratic profit margins.

Culture with a little C; don’t let it undermine your business
Probably the most common definition of an organization's culture is "the way we do things around here." If you're an executive describing your culture, you're most likely referring to your mission, vision and values; and your core beliefs and what they represent.

The Closet Eclectic: Coming Out and Building a Company Culture
That is building a culture. Creating a foundation for your business that is based on a mission and values and style that define your vision. It is the core of your business. It defines your brand and represents your business.

The Seats of Success: How Harley-Davidson Powered Itself to the Top

Harley-Davidson fans are known for the overt pride they take in their machines. A T-shirt that one devotee made reads: “Put your ass on some class.” Whether that motto has been officially sanctioned by the company or not, that is exactly what hundreds of thousands of bike riders around the world have done. With more than 33 models of touring and custom Harleys, which are sold by over 1,300 dealers, Harley-Davidson remains the only major American manufacturer of motorcycles, and dominates sales of the more heavyweight bikes. How did four young boys from Milwaukee turn their shed-bound experiments into a thriving enterprise and a cultural icon of America?

Lesson #3: A Clear Focus Will Take You Where You Want to Go

“We wanted Nike to be the world’s best sports and fitness company,” says Knight. “Once you say that, you have a focus. You don’t end up making wing tips or sponsoring the next Rolling Stones world tour.” From day one, Knight has had a clear vision about what he wanted his company to be, and where he wanted it to go. There have been many setbacks along the way, but it was in focusing on the larger end picture that Knight was able to keep Nike on track.

Lesson #1: Live by the Golden Rule
“I can say unequivocally that every decision we make at Mary Kay Cosmetics is based on the Golden Rule,” said Ash. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Lesson #4: The ‘Golden Rule’ Is Your Golden Ticket To Success

There are some who would argue that there is no such thing as ‘business ethics’. Sharp is not one of those people. In outlining the credo with which he wanted to run his company, Sharp declared that the ‘Golden Rule’ was going to be one of the cornerstones of the corporate culture that he was trying to create. “We aimed to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves,” says Sharp. “Enforcing our credo was the hardest part, and senior managers who couldn’t or wouldn’t live by it were weeded out within a few years.” It was a painful process, says Sharp, but one that had to be done.

Lesson #3: Develop A Habit Of Hard Work That Works

When Walter Davidson first heard about the attempts of his younger brother and his friend to build a motorcycle, he was intrigued with the possibilities. After helping the two youngsters assemble the parts they had fashioned, Davidson knew there was wealth of opportunities that lay ahead. He immediately quit his railroad job and moved back to Milwaukee, finding work as a machinist, in order to help build the business. However, in its early days, the Harley-Davidson Motor Co. did not have enough funds to pay the four founders. So dedicated was Davidson to the new company, that he continued to work as a machinist during the day, while assembling the motorcycles at night. This dedication and hard work was a trend that would become ingrained in the corporate culture of Harley-Davidson.

Making it through the Jungle: How Bezos Took Amazon to the Top

Bezos was hit with the hard reality of life when he came to the realization in university that he would never become one of the world’s great physicists. Little did he know that what the future had in store for him would be equally as impressive; from the garage in his two-bedroom home to the company’s global headquarters in Seattle that oversees its $8.5 billion in revenues, Amazon has become one of the largest e-commerce sites in the world. How did Bezos do it?

Revolutionary Leadership in Today's Economy Part 1
Today’s leadership is far more complex than just ten years ago. Customers’ expectations have risen, and with higher expectations come the need for organizations to meet those expectations. Thus, leaders now have a greater responsibility to perform and to manage higher levels of performance.

Culture Shock - do your people align with your corporate culture?
Why do people stay with organizations and why do they go? What prompts someone to join a company or move to a new one, particularly if there isn’t much difference in salary or position? Thinking about these questions, I began to reflect back on my recent vacation to Europe.

Culture Shock
Do your People align with your Corporate Culture? Why do people stay with organizations and why do they go? What prompts someone to join a company or move to a new one, particularly if there isn’t much difference in salary or position? Thinking about these questions, I began to reflect back on my recent vacation.

Create a work environment that supports being on top of your game
I’ve often thought our organizations could do better collectively if we modelled our corporate culture on a golf game. There’s a respectful ambience, a book of rules, a score card, and most importantly the expectation that everyone is there to play their best ...

The Great Secrets of a True Leader
To be most successful, leadership can not be treated simply as a role you play or as a program for middle management, but rather it must be viewed at all levels as a way of "being a leader." This "soft stuff" is hard work, but as a leader you already knew that.

4 Building Blocks of an Effective Talent Management System
If you reduce all the hype about talent management systems down to the bare essentials, there are only four building blocks that matter: 1. Knowing the competencies that get results 2. Managing performance well 3. Evaluating employee potential accurately 4. Recruiting the best talent Sounds simple, but getting it right is as much an art as it is a science.

4 Tips for Job Seekers Who Are Being Interviewed
Interviewing for a job can be a nerve racking experience. The pressure of convincing an employer you are the right person for the position is sometimes overwhelming, especially in a tough economic climate like this one. But even when the competition is staunch, there are ways to WOW your potential new boss.

Unravelling CSR from Spin
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is more ‘need to do' than ‘nice to do', but unless responsible behaviour and stakeholder dialogue are embedded in corporate culture and drive organisational decision making, neither the company nor its stakeholders will see the true benefits.

The "Yeah, But......" Syndrome
Be open to new ideas and participate in the learning process inherent in seminars, training sessions and strategic retreats. Then it’s up to you as to how “rich” you become.

The Importance of Ethical Business Practices
How do managers go about instilling good ethical behavior in their staff? And, how did it happen that a Bear Stearns banker once went out of his way to foster an aberrant culture where common courtesy was not to be tolerated?

Evaluating Your Company's Culture
I believe a company's culture is the single most important factor that will determine whether the company is sucessful or not. Business owners and executives should consider what they want their company culture to be and how they can shape it. This article provides many practical tips.

Why Editing is Essential for Web Copy
We have all heard the infamous words, "First Impressions Matter". Perhaps nothing sums up the best reason that editing is essential for web copy. Stop and think about the last website that you visited. Did you notice something that was not quite right? Chances are if you did, it will stick in your mind for a very long time!

So Be You
Instead of blending in, try standing out from your competition. Get it - so be you!

SWOT Analysis Tips
Some tips & recommendations on how to conduct a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & threats) analysis.

Keep strong leaders and improve the bottom line with onboarding
Savvy organizations have learned that leaders need more than the standard welcome package when they move into a new role. They need proper training. They need a plan for adapting to their new position. And they need support. In short, they need executive onboarding.

Hurry Up & Wait!
This article is meant to provide the reader with an objective perspective on proper preparation for a new product launch and proper market representation.

Does a Leader’s Communication Really Impact the Corporate Culture?
I have watched many corporations tumble due to the communication and character of their leaders. Why is it that just a few people can have such a big impact on the culture of an organization?

When You Should Promote From Within And When You Should Hire From Outside The Company

Their company was on the rise. They had gone from $50 million in sales to $250 million in just 10 years. They had a softball team, a family picnic every year, and a Christmas party that was so loved by everyone that groups of people would get blocks of rooms and stay the night to party together. Almost every Thursday the entire office would end up at a local bar for a few drinks together. Most of the Senior Vice Presidents made it on Thursday night as well. And then the CEO decided to retire.

The IT Sales Model is Broken

We are in the midst of a genuine revolution in the way I.T. sales are made. At the heart of this revolution is the issue of competing on value. In many cases, the differences between traditional sales approaches and value-based selling appear to be subtle, but in fact, they are profound, requiring changes in strategy, corporate culture and selling skills. Today’s markets are characterized by rapid commoditization, and it is seldom possible to compete on the basis of product features and benefits for any length of time, if margins are to be maintained or improved. Increasingly, the question being posed to suppliers, by their most important customers is – “How much better off will my company be if I buy your product/service or business solution?”

Success Or Failure Depends On Your Companys Corporate Culture
Your corporate culture is the key to success or failure. Find out how you can identify and change your company's corporate culture. Higher profits or more sales can be realized with a positive corporate culture.

How To Go From Employee To Supervisor In 6 Months
These articles come in a six part series: 1) The essence of managing 2) Re-engineer yourself to be a manager 3) How to go from employee to supervisor in 6 months 4) How to go from supervisor to entry level manager in 6 months 5) How to go from entry level manager to mid level manage in 6 months 6) How to go from mid level manager to top-level manager in 12 months

Small Business Change Management
Change is an ever-present component of small business ownership. The ability for small business owners to effectively manage change lays the groundwork for growth and helps build the foundation for the development of a positive corporate culture. What can small business owners do to make themselves better change leaders? What are the most important factors to consider when managing change?

How Corporate Culture Drives Engagement and Accountability
Corporate culture is critical to an organization’s success. However, when I ask my clients to describe their culture their description is often very fuzzy.

Leadership by Example
How can you encourage people in leadership roles throughout your organization to be more fully engaged in the leadership process? As a CEO, Vice President, Director or any other “KEY” leader, you play a very important role in developing a corporate or organizational mind-set...a mind-set that embraces the kind of leadership at all levels that will take your organization from good to great...

ArticleMarketing: Building Your Brand and Boosting Web Traffic
Examines the advantages of promoting businesses with by-lined print articles and on the web.

How to Harness the Power of Culture
Optimizing your culture should command as much attention as performance metrics, operations, finances, sales and every other organizational discipline.

If You Don't Know, Ask...Then Ask Again
First impressions...how quickly do you make them, hold onto them and judge everything by them? Making a judgment based on first impressions won't serve you. Paying attention to how and why you make those judgments will. Should you judge a book by its cover?

What it Takes to Excel as a Manager
When you are an employee, your performance is based on what you do. However, now that you have been promoted and have the responsibility of managing others, your performance is no longer about you. It is about your ability to accomplish through others. This is how you will be judged. Discover six concepts that you may want to embrace as a new manager.

How People Experience Work Shapes Your Organization’s Culture
You may not realize it, but as a manager or team leader, you create experiences every minute of the day that help shape your organization’s culture.

When to Change Your Corporate Culture
By definition, your culture produces your results. You cannot expect your current culture to produce new results. It may not be a bad culture; it simply isn't what’s needed if you want different results.

Culture Change Begins with Desired Results
To accelerate a change in the culture, start by defining the new results you wish to achieve.

I am a senior woman in an organization whose power structure is dominated by men. How do I succeed in this game without losing track of who I am?

Women who have attained senior positions in an organization often find it lonely at the top. A 2006 Catalyst Canada study shows that only 4.2% of FP500 companies have a woman as CEO or president. Women make up nearly half the work force, but rarely make it into the ranks of corporate officer. In fact, only 7.3% of so-called “clout titles” belong to women. As a woman in a senior position, you can maintain your personal momentum by staying true to who you are, knowing your strengths and having the confidence to show them off, as I describe below.

Organizational Development: Examining Business Wellness Ahead of Problems Occurring

Businesses, like other living organisms, can get sick. The afflictions come in a variety of forms, affecting culture, core values, productivity, profitability and sometimes business viability. Sometimes the ailment is more or less the equivalent of having a cold, and sometimes it is much more dangerous and threatening. The symptoms that you notice may not get you too worried, but those you are not aware of should.

Corporate Culture: Pressing The Reset Button

It is well accepted among organizational theorists that companies with strong cultures outperform those without such ingredients. Organizational culture usually starts with the style of leadership adopted from founders or senior executives of the organization. Clearly, culture is a critical component to the organization that, if not properly understood, can dramatically impact the success of the business.

What Is Your Organizational Value?

The latest data shows that the U.S. economy grew at just under a 2% annualized rate in the first half of 2011. Interestingly, statistics also bear out that the productivity of current workers is rising at about 2 percent a year. That means that a company can produce 2 percent more goods and/or services a year than the year before, even if it doesn't increase the number of people it employs. Perhaps it is because we have yet to see an economic recovery stick, but the pressure to increase productivity continues to grow. This phenomenon is really about losing entitled employees and keeping those that add value. You can see it happening at all levels of organizations, but what does this dynamic tell us about our changing work environments?

Incentives Spiffs and Bonuses A Thoughtful and Deliberate Sales Program

Before you introduce a sales incentive, spiff or bonus into your organization, take some time to understand the exact impact it will bring to your sales goals. But even more so the potential positive and negative impact such incentives can have on your sales and non-sales staff. Here is a holistic approach to creating incentives that will help ensure you are building stronger teams, recognizing team effort and building a healthy corporate culture while improving your overall sales revenue.

Culture - It's Not Just for Anthropologists Anymore
This article explores the elements that need to be in place to constitute a true corporate "culture" and laments the possible overuse of the term culture in business.

Business Knowledge to Shape Your Future

We are living in a “customer driven economy.” People are walking into car dealerships with an internet invoice price list in hand and stating what they will pay for a vehicle and in some cases stating exactly how they want the vehicle equipped and when they want it. In this new environment; Time – want it now, Money – want it cheap, and Quality – expect it in product, sale and service, is the admission price to do business.

How to get the job you want. 5 things You Can do Right Now to Improve Your Odds.
Whether you are looking for that first job right out of school, or you're ready to seek advancement in your career by re-entering the job market, here are some things you can do right now to improve your chances of getting the outcome you want and deserve.

Aggressive Recruiting And Retention
Recruiting and retention are one of the major concerns of organizations of all types and size. It will take new ways and much more aggressive action to hire and retain the talent required to be remain competitive in today's environment.

Five Simple Steps to Build a Winning Corporate Culture

In a winning company culture, a leader’s words and actions are aligned. What successful managers say accurately reflects the way things are, rather than simply posting motivational messages on the walls or masking dysfunctional behavior with words. In his newest article, “Five Simple Steps to Build a Winning Corporate Culture,” Dr. Gary Bradt discusses the three areas winning companies focus on: serving the customer, growing the business, and developing employees. His article outlines tips such as: - Define the leadership principles that guide the organization - Use those words in every business discussion and decision moving forward - Build the message into people performance and management systems - Create a leadership development experience that aligns with this attitude - Stay the course, despite challenges and resistance

The Squirrel Effect

Like that squirrel, people often hide what they consider important to their personal survival in the corporate world. It’s called information. Hoarding bits and pieces, they act as if information alone is a work-life sustaining nutrient. The more information nuggets they have, the safer or more powerful they think they’ll be. And while those nuggets might help someone survive in a corporate culture where information is a bartered commodity, long term it won’t help them thrive. Here’s why.

Walking Away From the Big Bucks in the Pursuit of True Balance
Seven Strategies to a Graceful Career Transition

Taking an Office Break to Meditate
When we go to work we carry the sensory overload from family life, the morning news and our aggravating commute. Add to that the demands of having to be productive in a competitive marketplace, and it ís easy to understand why some form of workplace meditation is crucial. Pressure mounts as we are compelled to work faster, produce more and be a vessel of profit.

Examples Of Strong Corporate Cultures
Corporate culture has become increasingly important to firms in the past 20 years. Despite its intangible nature, its role is meaningful, affecting employees and organizational operations. And while culture is not the only factor guaranteeing success, positive cultures offer significant competitive advantages over rivals.

A Four Letter Word That Will Transform Your Business
I use to get annoyed by Valentines Day. I considered it a cash grab perpetrated by the greeting card, floral, lingerie and confectionary industries to get American consumers to pay $18.6 billion (according to the National Retail Federation) in order to materially express our love for our partners. A ritualized example of commercial hucksterism.

Leap into new Space -Jump before you're pushed

The opening line of the best selling business book of all time is as succinct as it is true: “Good is the enemy of great”. Jim Collins’ 2001 bestseller Good to Great explains how most companies never become great because they are already good. They have become prisoners of their past – not feeling any need to push boundaries, innovate, prepare for the unexpected, stretch themselves or make necessary changes to ensure sustainable success. In the 21st century, this is a recipe for disaster.

Leap into new Space -Jump before you're pushed

Feet in the Fire or Feet on Fire?
The missing secrets to making your corporate culture come alive!

Corporate culture Tagged Articles

Other Corporate culture Related Articles