applicants , I ’ ve found it is more advantageous to hire for culture first . Many skills , especially for entry or midlevel jobs , can be taught over time if the employee reflects and embraces the culture of the organization .
I recommend measuring the intangible qualities that complement your company culture . Whether that ’ s a demonstrated commitment to success , a solutions-focused mindset or an infectious enthusiasm for your work , these qualities will drive greater results for your organization than the individual with a deep tactical resume . This philosophy was put to the test during the COVID-19 pandemic . Could our team-focused culture survive outside the walls of our office when everyone transitioned to remote work ? We believed it could , and we ’ re proud to say it absolutely did . Our team-first approach was cemented long before the global health crisis of 2020 , and it was the key to our ability to sustain success during the pandemic .
The foundation of an organization is its people , and to focus on outcomes only and ignore your most valuable assets is shortsighted . Investing in your team should be a daily priority . By hiring for culture over a specific skill set , you will build a team that is more successful . You can teach skills , but the other characteristics are essential to supporting your team .
Focus forward
Certainly , talented employees want generous compensation , benefits and fun activities at work . But I have found that motivated team members yearn for challenging and fulfilling work . They also want constant feedback as to their performance and mentorship from more senior team members from whom they can learn . This will guarantee that they perform at a high level .
And while the day-to-day work is critical to your organization ’ s success , you also need to constantly think about the future and paint the picture of what that looks like for the team . Where is your organization going ? What exciting and innovative ideas are in the future ? How can every team member help build the road to get there ?
Live , breathe and grow your culture
While retreats and vision statements are powerful , if your mission and culture are only discussed during quarterly meetings or annual retreats , you ’ re missing an opportunity to reinforce and weave together important pieces of your organization daily .
Exponentially grow the number of cultural ambassadors at your company by empowering team members at all levels to display culture through leadership opportunities . Culture is a daily philosophy and practice that must be at the core of leadership communications and project execution . It ’ s important to create pathways and platforms for team members to talk about organizational culture , whether during staff events and trainings or through internal communications .
Culture is a big investment in time , yet the dividends are priceless .
Jeff Randle is the president and CEO of Randle Communications , which has been distinguished by Inc . Magazine as Best Workplaces in 2019 and 2021 and has been on Sacramento Business Journal ’ s Best Places to Work list every year since 2009 .
The foundation of an organization is its people , and to focus on outcomes only and ignore your most valuable assets is shortsighted .
How do you prioritize creating a positive workplace culture ?
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