Team building and company culture

In the last 15 years, I've built 3 companies and I've been fortunate to have worked with some amazing people who have helped me build my companies. They've been talented, hard-working, and committed. But it's not just about having talented people on your team. It's also about having the right chemistry and culture.

Hiring the right people

If you're looking to build a successful company, my advice would be to focus on building a great team. Find the right people with the right skills and the right attitude, and create a culture that will allow them to thrive. It's the key to success. Hiring the right people and you will get the best results, even if the ideas are wrong.

Zappos - a U.S. company famous for giving a bonus of about $2000 to anyone who declines employment after two weeks of training - has a rule that 20% of work time is spent bonding with people in the company. They say that if you hire the right people, internal relationships will always work.

Zappos wants to make sure that the right people are hired and that they are aware of each other. If an employee wants to get a pet, the company will pay for it, and if employees want to run in a marathon, the company will pay for their entry.

If you don't trust the person you hired or the person you work with, you will worry about how they will react to even the most innocuous emails. Working with someone who makes you sick to your stomach may be no different than marrying for money, as Warren Buffett says. Therefore, It is more effective to be aware of who you are working with and spend more time and effort on hiring the right people than what you are doing.

Company Culture

When it comes to company culture, It should be something that employees can be proud of and that sets the company apart from its competitors. Creating a strong company culture can help to attract and retain top talent, boost morale, and improve overall productivity. It takes time and effort, but it's worth it. A positive culture can lead to happier employees, lower turnover, and a more successful organization.

If you're looking to create a positive company culture, here are a few tips to get you started:

Define your company culture

Culture is the operating system of your organization. It may seem intangible, but thinking of it this way makes it feel more real and grounded. It's the set of shared beliefs, values, and behaviors that guide how you and your team work together.

It is designed by its leadership through the "little things", like punctuality in meetings, responsiveness, or taking the time to get to know employees on a personal level.

Before you can start creating a company culture, you need to first define what that operating system looks like.

• What values and beliefs do you want your company to stand for?
  i.e.; Honesty - Transparency - Fairness - Equality - Respect- Being Bold.

• What kind of people do you want to attract and retain?
  i.e.; We want to attract and retain those who are passionate about their work, are always looking for ways to improve, and are excited to be part of a team. We want people who are willing to take on challenges and who are always learning.

• What kind of leadership do you want to promote?
  i.e.; We want to promote leadership that is transparent, open to new ideas, and willing to work together to find the best solutions.

• What kind of communication do you want to encourage?
  i.e.; We want to encourage clear and concise communication in our company.

• What kind of work ethic do you want to instill?
  i.e.; We want our employees to be dedicated to their work and to always strive to do their best. We believe that this will lead to a more successful and productive company.

• What kind of decision-making process do you want to use?
  i.e.; The decision-making process that you use in your company will depend on the size and structure of your business, as well as the industry you are in. Some companies use a top-down approach, where decisions are made by the CEO or other senior executives. Other companies use a bottom-up approach, where decisions are made by employees at all levels of the company. Still, others use a hybrid approach, where decisions are made by a mix of top-down and bottom-up decision-makers.

• What kind of risk-taking do you want to encourage?
  i.e.; The kind of risk-taking we want to encourage in our company is calculated risk-taking. We want our employees to feel comfortable taking risks that they have thought through and believe will lead to positive outcomes for the company. We want to reward the creative process, not the outcome.

• What kind of innovation do you want to promote?
  i.e.; We want to encourage innovation that is customer-centric, that is, an innovation that is motivated by a deep understanding of our customers' needs and desires. We also want to promote innovation that is driven by a passion for creating value for our customers, not just for the sake of novelty or technological advancement.

• What kind of environment do you want to create?
  i.e.; We want to create an environment where our employees feel valued, respected, and supported. We want to provide opportunities for our employees to grow and develop their skills. We want to create a culture of teamwork and collaboration.

Answering these questions will help you to develop a clear vision for your company culture.

Communicate your company culture

Once you've defined your company culture, it's essential to communicate it to your employees. Make sure that everyone is on the same page about what the culture is and what it means for them. This will help to ensure that everyone is working towards the same goal and that the company culture is being upheld.

Promote a positive company culture

Encourage your employees to live and breathe your company culture. Recognize and reward those who embody the culture in their everyday work. And, take steps to address any negative behaviors that could be damaging to the culture.

Walk the walk

It's not enough to just talk about company culture - you need to live it as well. As the leader of your company, you set the tone for the culture. So, make sure that you're modeling the behavior you want to see in your employees.

Creating a strong company culture can have a positive impact on your business. By taking the time to define and promote a positive culture, you can create an environment that employees will enjoy and that will help your business to thrive.