Employees today want more than just a paycheck for the work performed. They want to feel part of something bigger. They want to know that they play an integral role in the success of the team and in the company. That they mean something! They also want to know that they themselves are growing and are going places. Lastly, they want to work with (not for, but with) a caring and successful boss who truly supports them. We rely on our employees, on our team, to produce the results that we desire. We need to treat them like gold and we must always understand that we are only as good as our team.
Why is a rock-solid culture so important? It is people’s livelihood! Work takes up a good chunk of a person’s time. When you have a rock-solid culture at the workplace, people enjoy what they do, they produce great work, and they don’t want to leave the company. They become loyal. They have pride. They don’t see work as work and they don’t stare at the clock all day and they don’t show happiness just on Friday. When you have this kind of great culture, employees will do everything for you. They will work longer hours, they will go above and beyond, and more. Why? Because they care. They care because they know that you (the manager) and the company truly cares for them. Culture is what can give one company a major competitive advantage over another.
How can you start building this culture? You can read countless books on this but I am a simple guy and simple works. You start with ongoing rapport each and every day with as many employees as you can reach out to. Take both a professional and a personal interest in your employees. A genuine interest. Meaning, you care and you are listening. On a personal level, you ask them how their weekend was, how their day is going, and you listen carefully and you support them. It is okay to be their friend. Yes, you can also be their friend while also being their boss. Don’t think because you are a boss or have a fancy title that you can’t become good friends with an employee. Take a genuine interest in what they have going on in their lives and show them that you care about them. When was the last time you called a member of your team and just talked with them, maybe about business, but you just talked with them to see how things are going in their lives? This is the kind of stuff, the rapport, that any boss or manager can start doing right now. You will have employees (friends) for life.
On a business level, understand what makes them tick, what makes them go to work every day. What their goals are, where they see themselves over the next few years. Understand their aspirations. Understand areas for improvement and letting them know that you can help them with that too. Make notes and show them that you care and that you listened to them. Then, be on the lookout for ideas and opportunities that can only further advance the employee. Imagine calling a member of your team a few weeks later after having a chat with them just to let them know that another team or business unit is launching a program and that you would endorse and recommend your employee for it. Do you know how impactful just the thought of you thinking about them and looking out for them has on your employee? This builds loyalty.
Next, you have to go above and beyond with helping your team. Helping them with anything that they may need. They want to know that they have a boss that will do anything to help ensure their success. Be there for them. 110% effort. Roll up your sleeves, jump in and support them in every way you can.
In addition to constant rapport and support, you need to have fun with them and the job! Yes, you need to have FUN!!! Who doesn’t enjoy a joke or a laugh on a Monday morning, or a team call that has everyone in tears over something comical that occurred earlier in the week? To make this point so obvious, imagine the opposite for a second. You create an environment of nothing but high-stress, seriousness, and worry. Do you think your employees will perform the best they can? No, and eventually they will most likely burn out and will leave you.
Don’t get me wrong here. I completely understand that when it is “go-time” we must produce and do our jobs exceptionally well and deliver solid results. That I have always done and embraced. But you have to have fun with it along the way. There is a fine line between pushing hard and driving success and reaching a breaking point. When you mix in having some fun here and there, you can keep the train on the tracks with accomplishing the mission while also maintaining a healthy culture.
That’s it. Lots of rapport, lots of support, and a fun, healthy environment. I know the above to be true and to work effectively. Here is one sliver of proof why I know this to be true. Several years ago at a sales meeting dinner, I was looking around the banquet room with all the different sales teams sitting at the various round tables having dinner. Every one of those tables was filled with dead-air, seriousness, and boring conversation. My whole team sat at our table. We were the noisiest, most energetic, non-stop laughing, smiling, and fun table in the whole room! Our table represented 6 of my 8 salespeople who achieved over 100% to quota for the prior year. All top performers, yet all having fun! This is a perfect visual example of what a great culture looks like!
-Happy Selling