Creating A Successful Company Culture Starts with these 6 Steps

A company's culture is like its fingerprint—unique, identifiable, and influential. In fact, culture is one of the most important factors in determining a company's success. Just ask Alexus Neidert, the head of brand and culture at Thomasville Restoration. We had the pleasure of speaking with Alexus at the Restoration Industry Association event recently, and she shared some insightful tips on how to create and manage a successful company culture. Here are a few key takeaways to get you thinking about how you can improve your own company culture.

Alexus emphasized the critical role of a well-defined mission and vision for your company, coupled with a set of core values that resonate with every individual in the organization. At Thomasville, their mission of “Putting Homes and Lives Back Together” serves as a guiding light, reminding every teammate that their work contributes to rebuilding lives during challenging times.

She also stressed the importance of having a dedicated cheerleader within the company who passionately champions the culture and fosters a sense of belonging among team members. This individual acts as a supportive advocate for the leadership team, ensuring that the values and principles of the company are upheld and celebrated.

Additionally, Alexus highlighted the significance of personal connection by recommending spending a day with each teammate to truly understand their perspectives, needs, and contributions. This hands-on approach fosters a sense of camaraderie and mutual appreciation within the team.

When it comes to hiring, Alexus emphasized that cultural fit should be prioritized above qualifications. Skills can be taught, but the core values and ethos of a company are intrinsic and must align with those of the individual joining the team.

Furthermore, she underscored the importance of a thoughtful onboarding process for new hires, designed to acclimate them to the company culture swiftly and effectively. By providing a warm welcome, sharing the company's history and values, and engaging in personal conversations, new employees are set up for success from day one.

To reinforce the company culture and keep team members engaged, Alexus recommended hosting quarterly events and incorporating gamification into educational activities. These initiatives not only boost morale but also ensure that everyone is aligned with the organization's mission and goals.

By implementing these strategies, you can cultivate a strong and vibrant company culture that will drive success and foster a sense of unity among your team. Special thanks to Alexus for sharing her invaluable insights with us!

1) Create clear core values, mission and vision statements unique to you

Neidert emphasizes the importance of having a clear mission and vision for your company, as well as a set of core values that everyone in the company can get behind. She says that it is essential that everyone in the company knows these things inside and out. "Your mission and vision should be something that you're constantly talking about and reinforcing," she says. "And your core values should guide everything you do." At Thomasville, having their mission of “Putting Homes and Lives Back Together” ingrained in every teammate’s head really helps them to get through some of those tough days and reminds them that their work is helping to put lives together for those homeowners going through some dark times.

2) Find a cheerleader to communicate culture

Neidert says that it is important to have someone in the company who is passionate about the company culture and who can be an advocate for it. This person should be someone who is outgoing and who enjoys interacting with people.  Alexus stresses, “Your cheerleader is a teammate who will support the leadership team in finding things that make your team feel most valued, heard, and cared for. This is someone you trust not to get into water-cooler talk and who genuinely wants to see a change for the better.”

3) Spend a day with each teammate

The cheerleader should spend time getting to know each teammate and what their needs are. This will help them be more effective in their role and find value in their work.  They should also have regular check-ins with teammates to see how they're doing and if there's anything they would like to see in the company. This creates a sense of pride in their contributions to the culture. “Hop in the truck, spend a day driving around to projects, learn how the day is from their perspective and most importantly…just listen,” Alexus tells us.

4) The most important qualifier when hiring

Alexus had a bit of a mic-drop moment as she explained, “The #1 quality you should be hiring for is Cultural Fit; this first, then qualifications. Qualifications can be taught but you can’t teach reliability, compassion, care. Are you willing to sacrifice a star for someone who will ruin the culture that you have worked so hard to create?”

5) The first day of on-boarding

Alexus says that it is important to have a well-thought-out on-boarding process for new teammates. This will help them acclimate to the company culture more quickly. "The on-boarding process should give new teammates an overview of the company's history, its mission and values, and what their role will be," she says. The new hire gets a phone call before they begin to find out a bit about their family, likes, hobbies. On their first day they receive a welcome packet with shirts and Thomasville Gear. The leadership team takes the new hire out to one of their favorite lunch spots and sets the tone of joining a family that really cares.

6) Quarterly events and gamification

Neidert says that quarterly events and educational games are a great way to reinforce the company culture and make sure teammates are on the same page. At Thomasville, they have quarterly events where they are transparent in numbers of the company, successes and challenges of the year to show the company’s “heart of gratitude” that all can feel. You can check out their Q4 meeting here to see the energy that the leadership brings to the team! Alexus believes strongly in gamification to reinforce the company’s culture and procedures instead of just a written test and gives prizes of the winners during the meetings. Alexus recommends Kahoot to turn your quizzes into fun and interactive games.

Creating a strong company culture is essential to the success of your business. By taking the time to create clear values, mission, and vision statements; by finding a cheerleader to act as a culture ambassador; by on-boarding new hires effectively; and by gamifying your culture and procedure quizzes, you can create a thriving company culture that will benefit your business for years to come. Thanks for reading and a special thank you to Alexus for all of these nuggets of knowledge she was able to share with the industry!