Running a company isn’t easy, especially if you’re going through a process of change, but instilling an inspiring corporate culture in your organization can help you beat the odds.
Inspiring corporate culture can be a challenging task for most of us, so let’s break it down a bit:
How do you inspire your co-workers or employees to stick with you even in the hardest of times?
In my experience inspiring corporate culture can be built on the foundation of curiosity:
Allow your curiosity to lead the way.
Get to know the people you’re working with. Ask them how they like the job, and if they’re happy doing it. Maybe there’s something you could improve in their daily routine?
The most important thing you could do when working on your corporate culture is making your employees and co-workers feel important and appreciated. Make them feel welcome when they come to let you know something isn’t working in your company.
Some leaders hate getting criticized, but by allowing yourself to get mad at your employees you are placing yourself in a situation where they might completely shut up and eventually leave the company in the face of change.
Change Happens Regardless if You Are prepared or Not
For me, going blind was a scary, miserable thing that changed everything. My misery only grew stronger after losing the security of a job, and being diagnosed with a cancer that metastasizes. Now that was downright rotten.
However, in the toughest of times I had the support of innumerable friends, the wherewithal to withstand the financial storm, and even great articles in the local paper that gave me strength.
I want to assure you that regardless of where you stand on curiosity and change, if you are willing, you will be able to handle even the most difficult of situations.
I hope you aren’t tested, but if you are that you have the good fortune of having surrounded yourself with great friends and supporters, and that you are humble enough to let them help.
For instance, are we ashamed of asking our children to teach us how to text? Are we ashamed of asking a tall person to put our luggage in the overhead bin? A stronger person to open that stubborn jar?
Do Not Resist Change – Get Relevant!
The people bringing about the autonomous car clearly understand that when they finally succeed, there will be dire consequences for many industries, such as parking garages, mechanics, car dealers, insurance companies, and so forth.
Should this stop them from pushing forward? Absolutely NOT! As we have seen before, it is our responsibility to increase our awareness of what is happening around us, and anticipate how change will affect our lives.
This is exactly why it’s important to build strong foundations of an inspiring corporate culture so you can work with your team on staying relevant in your field.
So next time you start getting angry with an employee criticizing you and your company, stop and remember this simple fact: You want your people coming to you with questions, and possible answers to any company problem, instead of fearing you and shutting up.
That is how inspiring corporate culture should work! I talk more on change in all of its shapes, and why you shouldn’t fear it in my book: “Blind Spots: How to Embrace Curiosity, Disruption, and Imagination to See Yourself as a Change Agent”
