“What is our company culture?”
If you stopped five members of your organization today, would you get five different answers? Maybe something similar but, well, imprecise? Or, confused silence?
What if you asked them to tell you what they did today to uphold that ethos?
At the most successful businesses, you will get the same answer, on point, every time.
You may have heard a lot of people talking about culture lately. There is a good reason for that. Identifying and living your culture is the key to attracting and maintaining great associates and pleasing guests. In different words, it’s the key to making money.
I recently spoke at the Summit for Texas Independent Restaurateurs, a conference in Austin created by the Texas Restaurant Association. Libby Sartain, former head of Human Resources for Southwest Airlines and Yahoo! Inc. spoke just before me. It’s obvious from the places she has worked that she is somewhat of a culture all-star.
She went all “It’s A Wonderful Life” on culture, asking the great question, “If your company did not exist, what would happen?” In other words, what are the unique and special things your company contributes to the world? If you can’t answer that question, it’s time to get to work.
We are proud to have collaborated with many of our clients get them to point where their answers are plentiful.
North Texas‘ i Fratellli Pizza stands for family, exemplary behavior, and humor.
The Original Pancake House DFW puts associates first and practices enlightened hospitality.
Pok-e-jo’s Smokehouse in Austin provides “High Quality Hand Made Texas Barbecue” and “Finds a Way to Say Yes.”
The Summit for Texas Independent Restaurateurs conference posited that “employees have to love you before your customers will.”
Libby reminded us, “If it doesn’t happen on the inside, it can’t happen on the outside.”
If you do not define and live your culture, you are not giving your business the best chance to succeed. If you are struggling, focusing on culture could be the key to your success. If you are successful like our clients,
culture is one big key to more success.
