Organizations can spend a lot of time and money establishing a unique culture that makes them a more effective business. Creating a culture is a complex and dynamic process. When establishing the cultural environment requires more than just words, it requires rewarding behaviors that demonstrate the culture points you want to promote and build.
Working ON your business instead of just IN your business means you need a team that can run the business even when you aren’t there. Often a strong company culture is the first step.
When trying to build a “commercial profitable enterprise that works even when you are not there”, as coined by Brad Sugars, CEO & Founder of ActionCOACH Business Coaching, creating a vision that leads everything and everyone in the business is critical. This vision is central to every function and every goal, vision doesn’t change. It doesn’t vary and is not flexible.
To ensure that the vision is central to the work performed, create value points or culture points that provide a guide to working together within the organization.
Whether you have 5, 10 or 14 points of culture, make sure that you weave the concepts into every level and in every function. At ActionCOACH, the largest and most successful business coaching organization in the world, these are the 14 points of culture.
- Commitment
I give myself and everything I commit to 100% until I succeed.
I am committed to the Vision, Mission, Culture and success
of ActionCOACH, its current and future team, and its clients
at all times. I always recommend products and services of
ActionCOACH prior to going outside the company.
- Ownership
I am truly responsible for my actions, the outcome that my
actions will bring, and own everything that takes place in my
work and my life. I am accountable for my results and I know
that for things to change, first I must change.
- Integrity
I always speak the truth. What I promise is what I deliver.
I only ever make agreements with myself and others that I am
willing and intend to keep. I communicate potentially broken
agreements at the first opportunity and I clear up all broken
agreements immediately.
- Excellence
Good enough isn’t. I always deliver products and services of
exceptional quality that add value to all involved for the long
term. I look for ways to do more with less and stay on a path
of constant and never-ending improvement and innovation.
- Communication
I speak positively of my fellow team members, my clients and
ActionCOACH in both public and private. I speak with good
purpose using empowering and positive conversation. I never
use or listen to sarcasm or gossip. I acknowledge what is being
said as true for the speaker at that moment and I take responsibility
for responses to my communication. I greet and farewell
people using their name. I always apologize for any upsets first
and then look for a solution. I only ever discuss concerns in
private with the person involved.
- Success
I focus my thoughts, energy, and attention on the successful
outcome of whatever I am doing. I am willing to win and
allow others to win: Win/Win. At all times, I display my inner
pride, prosperity, competence and personal confidence. I am
a successful person.
- Education
I learn from my mistakes. I consistently learn, grow and master
so that I can help my fellow team members and clients learn,
grow and master too. I am an educator and allow my clients
to make their own intelligent decisions about their future remembering
that it is their future. I impart practical and usable
knowledge rather than just theory.
- Teamwork
I am a team player and team leader. I do whatever it takes to
stay together and achieve team goals. I focus on co-operation
and always come to a resolution, not a compromise. I am
flexible in my work and able to change if what I’m doing is not
working. I ask for help when I need it and I am compassionate
to others who ask me.
- Balance
I have a balanced approach to life, remembering that
my spiritual, social, physical and family aspects are just
as important as my financial and intellectual. I complete
my work and my most important tasks first, so I can have
quality time to myself, with my family and also to renew.
- Fun
I view my life as a journey to be enjoyed and appreciated
and I create an atmosphere of fun and happiness so all
around me enjoy it as well.
- Systems
I always look to the system for a solution. If a challenge
arises I use a system correction before I look for a people
correction. I use a system solution in my innovation rather
than a people solution. I follow the system exactly until a
new system is introduced. I suggest system improvements
at my first opportunity.
- Consistency
I am consistent in my actions so my clients and teammates
can feel comfortable in dealing with me at all times. I am
disciplined in my work so my results, growth and success
are consistent.
- Gratitude
I am a truly grateful person. I say thank you and show
appreciation often and in many ways so that all around
me know how much I appreciate everything and everyone
I have in my life. I celebrate my wins and the wins of my
clients, and team. I consistently catch myself and other
people doing things right.
- Abundance
I am an abundant person, I deserve my abundance and I am
easily able to both give and receive it. I allow abundance in
all areas of my life by respecting my own self-worth and that
of all others. I am rewarded to the level that I create abundance
for others and I accept that abundance only shows up in my
life to the level at which I show up.
Recently, ActionCOACH was recognized as a TOP Franchise Culture by the Franchise Business Review. This industry publication evaluates thousands of franchises per year and rates the culture of the organization. To be recognized by an independent organization signifies the culture established has truly permeated the business.
Now it’s time to celebrate and recognize your team and your partners for the work they do in supporting your vision and living the culture you have created and nurtured. Creating ‘culture’ awards and rituals around your company culture points creates even a more exciting and inclusive environment.
The more you get your team focused on working towards common goals and honoring the culture points, the sooner you can begin to start working ON your business and let your team run the business with confidence.
