Creating a Great Culture – What’s in it for You?

At times when I speak to leaders about investing resources, time, and effort into creating a great culture, I often get a common response. It most often comes in a look on their face that says are you serious Tim? What’s in it for me? 

This is an understandable and perfectly appropriate response. Afterall, leaders are tasked with the important responsibility to protect the organization’s limited assets and their time is valuable.  

So what is in it for a leader who commits to creating a strong culture? Well, I never thought you’d ask! 

1 – Improved Results  

Many studies have shown that companies with strong cultures produce better results. Though investing in developing a strong culture does take resources, time, and lots of effort, it always pays off. The amazing thing about a strong culture is it helps your organization with any challenge it may face. Likewise, a good culture never sleeps and is always working to make things better.    

2 – Competitive Advantage 

A strong culture gives you a clear leg up on the competition. With competition as fierce as it is for attracting and retaining clients, staff, and other partners, having a strong culture gives you a distinct advantage to winning over more people. People want to be a part of a company that has a great environment and a clear cause it is fighting for.   

3 – Personally Rewarding 

While the other two benefits are nice, this one is by far the best. Creating a strong culture that people love to be a part of it extremely rewarding. There is no better feeling than when you know your company is improving the lives of those it serves, including customers, staff, and the community. Seeing people who love to do business with you, who love to work with you, and who are grateful to be associated with you produces incredible feelings of satisfaction that cannot be achieved in any other way.  

So what’s in it for you? Though I’m convinced that creating a strong culture improves results and is the key competitive advantage leaders must seek to differentiate themselves from others, it is also the best way to derive personal fulfillment and satisfaction at work. When leaders know, see, and feel they are positively influencing not only those who work for them but also many beyond the walls of work, this makes all the resources, time, and effort well worth it.