Company culture is essential for engagement and overall success, with a significant majority of employees believing it is critical. Companies often fail by not communicating effectively and allowing bad leadership behaviors to persist, which can lead to high employee turnover and dissatisfaction. To foster a great culture, companies should empower their employees, celebrate culture wins, and recognize that the leadership plays a crucial role in shaping the organizational environment.

2. “Customerswillneverloveacompanyuntilthe
employeesloveitfirst.” —SimonSinek
Culture matters

3. • It gives your people something to care about.
• It affects the direction your company takes.
• It’s one of the few ways SMBs can compete with big
businesses.
• It is the easiest way to engage your people.
Whydoesculturematter?

4. Culture is the compass that guides which
direction your company will go.
84percentofemployeesbelieve
cultureiscriticaltobusinesssuccess.

5. “YouCan’tBuyYourCultureatWalmart!”
—MikeKerr,HumoratWorkspeaker
How do companies do
it wrong?

6. • People are leaving. Often.
• Not communicating in the right way.
• You borrowed the company values
from another company.
• Bad behaviors from leaders (will
trickle down eventually).
• Managers are not willing to do front-
line work.
• Your people don’t bring on their own
friends when you have an opening.
• Employees compete with each other
more than against your competitors.
• Your people don’t like each other.
• People don’t know or care about the
company’s overall goals.
Signsthatcompanyculturestinks:

7. If your people aren’t working hard and playing
hard, your company culture may need a lift.
51percentofemployeesthink
amajoroverhauliscurrently
neededintheirculture.

8. How can companies
do it right?
“Workinghardforsomethingwedon’tcareabout
iscalledstress.Workinghardforsomethingwe
loveiscalledpassion.”
—SimonSinek

9. Anyoftheselookfamiliar?
What sets these companies apart from the others?

10. • It’s okay to fail.
• Creativity and good work is rewarded.
• You enjoy working with those around
you.
• Your people know and live your
company values.
• Freedom to make decisions and
flexibility to do your best work in the
best way.
• Your CEO is available to each and every
employee.
• Your people actively share your
company wins and job openings on
social media.
• Helping each other is not an exception,
it’s the norm.
• Great ideas can come from anyone.
• Your boss actually knows what you do
in your spare time.
Signsthatcompanyculturerocks:

11. Usevideotoshowyourculture:

12. If your people like coming to work and start
taking an ownership perspective of their work,
then you know your culture is working for you.
60percentofemployeesthinkculture
ismoreimportantthanstrategyor
operatingmodel.

13. How can you create a
great culture?
“AtZappos,ourbeliefisthatifyougettheculture
right,mostoftheotherstuff—likegreatcustomer
service,orbuildingagreatlong-termbrand,
orpassionateemployeesandcustomers—will
happennaturallyonitsown.”
—TonyH.,CEOof Zappos

14. • Recognize the problem.
• Know what you want.
• Make it official.
• Show you’re different from
the rest.
• Always live it.
• Empower your people.
• Hire for culture fit.
• Correct, when needed.
• Celebrate your culture wins.
Stepstocreateyourown
rockingculture:

15. 59percentofemployeesthinktheCEO
andothertopleadersareresponsible
forchangingculture.
Culture isn’t another to-do on your list; it’s something
you and everyone in your company should be living every
day—without having to think about it.

16. How can you measure
results?
“Anorganization’sabilitytolearn,andtranslate
thatlearningintoactionrapidly,istheultimate
competitiveadvantage.”
—JackWelch

17. • Number of applicants when
recruiting
• Employee retention
• Employee satisfaction
• Performance numbers
• Number of people reading
your blog and engaging on
social media
MeasurableData:

18. • Vibe at the office
• Type of people you attract
• People are noticing your
company
• Your employees love coming
to work
• Your company’s vision is
getting closer
Non-measurableData:

19. Dataisbigrightnow.Wehavethetools
tomeasurethings,sowewanttoknow
howoureffortstranslate.Culturecan
bemeasuredaswell.Butthere’salso
thesofter,unmeasurablesidethatwill
alwaysbeimportant.
Sometimes you don’t have a percentage or a number
that shows how much your team likes working together.

20. Ask yourself this: Would
your people keep working
if they won the lottery?
“Moneymotivatesneitherthebestpeople,nor
thebestinpeople.Itcanmovethebodyand
influencethemind,butitcannottouchthe
heartormovethespirit;thatisreservedfor
belief,principle,andmorality.”
—DeeHock

21. Questions?
Tweetyourquestionsat
#askbamboo