FAQs / RESOURCES
What’s on your mind?
I read an awful lot today about company culture. Can focusing on it really bring a competitive advantage?
Some of the most successful companies put their company’s culture front and centre of their business strategy. Think Google or Facebook or any of the world’s top employers. This is not a project, or a fad, but a mindset that is critical to the long-term success of your company, particularly in an industry (or economy) where good workers have their pick of companies.
What benefits could I see if I focus my company and my leadership team on deliberately building culture?
Greater employee satisfaction for starters – which’ll lead to higher productivity. Your teams will want to go above and beyond without being asked, simply because they’re invested – they own their work. And all this means less turnover, stronger teams and better results.
You make it sound simple. Do I really need Culture Advantage?
Well, if diet and exercise was so easy, then why do so many of us still hire a trainer or a nutritionist? Most of us understand what’s needed, but we need help with the execution. With a proven process to follow, guidance to help when you get stuck or frustrated, accountability to keep pushing, and someone to celebrate the progress made, it makes sense to hire a culture “trainer”.
My company is a small start-up. Can Culture Advantage help a company of my size develop a strong company culture?
Absolutely! Cultures are often strongest when they are intentionally defined early in a company’s life. Your culture becomes the foundation by which you’ll select and hire people, strategise and adjust to external factors, and protect your sense of purpose.
Large companies may want help in redefining and redirecting their corporate culture, with the added challenge of steering a larger ship in a new direction.
I think my company needs a culture change. What factors will help us be successful in the midst of such a change?
Culture is cultivated. From being able to identify the advantages of your company culture to actively encouraging those strengths, a company’s leadership has to be on board. Companies have the best chance of success when they are guided by a top leader who recognises and pursues the advantages of a strong culture. And, those leaders are secure and sufficiently self-aware to change their own behaviour (when necessary) to nurture the culture their company needs.
How do you charge for your services?
Companies receive the greatest benefits when they engage Culture Advantage on an ongoing, monthly basis for an initial 6-month term. Based on your specific needs, I can either work alongside your team, in the office, or off-site as a consultant. Individual services can also be implemented on a project basis, or at a daily rate with on-site facilitation.
Recommended Books
The Ideal Team Player – Patrick Lencioni
In Patrick’s follow-up book he focuses on what makes some people better team players than others. I recommend this read if you want to identify, hire and grow the type of people that foster a culture of teamwork.
Start with Why – Simon Sinek
In this book, Simon explains how our experiences shape our beliefs and drive our purpose, and why it is critical for an organisation or an individual to figure out their why… After all, who wouldn’t want a deeper sense of fulfilment?
The 4 Disciplines of Execution – Chris McChesney, Sean Covey & Jim Huling
This book gives very practical advice on how to avoid the tyranny of the urgent, and create the focus and structures in your teams that’ll deliver consistent results without the drama.
Emotional Intelligence 2.0 – Dr. Travis Bradberry
I think it’s fair to say that most people know that emotional intelligence (EQ) is critical to one’s success but knowing what EQ is and how to use it to improve work and personal relationships is a different story. In this book, Travis gives a step-by-step programme for increasing your EQ, and building these skills into strengths.
First Break All the Rules – Gallup
This book challenged my thinking on how good managers sustain employee satisfaction. Buckingham and Coffman debunk old myths based on observations and interviews collected over 25 years and rolled out new truths on finding and keeping talented people in your organisation.
7 Habits of Highly Efficient People – Steven Covey
If you want to make the most of your time, talents and relationships, then read this book!
5 Dysfunctions of a Team – Patrick Lencioni
In this book, Patrick explores the fundamental causes of organisational politics and team failure, and the ingredients necessary to nurture healthy and winning teams. One of my favourites!
Recommended Viewing
The puzzle of motivation – Dan Pink
Mastery, autonomy, purpose. Understand what truly motivates knowledge workers, lean into it, and you will have discovered the secret to retaining your best employees.
Why we do what we do – Tony Robbins
Tony talks about the six needs that drive all human behaviour, whether it is building a business or raising a family. Each of us value and prioritise these needs in different ways and we have varied beliefs about what it means to satisfy those needs.
How great leaders inspire action – Simon Sinek
In one of the most watched TED talks of all time, Simon explains that every person’s career operates on three levels. He calls these the Golden Circle: what we do, how we do it and why we do it.
Why the best hire might not have the perfect resume – Regina Hartley
In this very relevant talk, especially for the South African context, Regina makes the case for considering the candidate who may not have the perfect resume. Why? Because what you’re really looking for is growth, transformation and grit.
The power of vulnerability – Brene Brown
Teams cannot be healthy without trust and trust does not happen without psychological safety and vulnerability. But why is vulnerability so difficult? Brene shares what she has learned in her decade-long research.
The Interview That Broke The Internet – Simon Sinek on Millennials Workplace
Simon challenges companies to take responsibility for nurturing the generation that will make up half the global workforce by 2020.
Five Dysfunctions of a Team – Patrick Lencioni
In this highly entertaining talk, Patrick discusses the fundamental causes of organisational politics and team failure, and the ingredients necessary to nurture healthy and winning teams.
How to break bad management habits before they reach the next generation of leaders – Elizabeth Lyle
Millennial managers are in a tough position: they want to climb the corporate ladder and they like to challenge the way things are done. Elizabeth is a leadership expert who helps companies work with millennial managers.