What is the culture of an organization? How do we create a culture of excellence within our own company or organization?
First, let’s define our terms. Merriam-Webster defines Culture as:
A way of thinking, behaving, or working that exists in a place or organization (such as a business). The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization.
In Bob Burg and John David Mann’s special report, The Go-Giver Way: Five Principles for Creating a Culture of Excellence they share that:
…an organization’s genuine culture is created not by mission statements, slogans or overarching policies, but by the quality of the actual person-to-person interaction taking place within the group…. in other words, [it] arises from the quality of the relationships within the organization. YOU create the culture.
It is very freeing and empowering to realize that we create the culture. Of course, with that freedom comes responsibility. We either create (or re-create) the culture consciously or we unconsciously accept and follow the way things have always been done.
In their book, The Go-Giver, the authors codified the essential elements of a culture of excellence in their Five Laws of Stratospheric Success.
By using the Five Laws together, they form the foundation for a very successful company. It sets the tone of the relationships both within the organization and externally as well. It is our way of being. It is on that foundation that we overlay our vision, mission and values — our why and what — and create our own unique business.
Glenn Beck recently interviewed Bob Burg on his radio program. They discussed the Five Laws and how Mr. Beck is reshaping his company culture:
If you really want to be part of the solution and not part of the problem and you just want a new way of looking at business, I can’t recommend highly enough The Go-Giver. It’s how I’m building my company and resetting things. I bought 300 copies and gave it to every employee at Christmas.
As entrepreneurs and business owners we have the opportunity to create businesses that are powerful, positive influences in the world and on the lives of everyone we touch. We call it living… The Go-Giver Way!
We would love to hear how you are creating your culture of excellence. Please feel free to share below in the comments section.
Kathy,
SO happy to discover your blog post. This has been overdue – in my opinion – because of the depth of knowledge and breadth of insights you possess.
I agree wholeheartedly that a company’s/group’s/organization’s culture is created – and often needs to be re-created….or at least modified and adapted to ever changing factors.
More so I agree that the Go-Giver and its Five Laws are an ideal philosophy to do exactly that.
Thanks Kathy.
Thank you so much, Bill! I appreciate your kind words and encouragement. I plan to be posting regularly now.
I agree, our culture is dynamic and must adapt to the ever-changing factors in business and in the world.
Excellent post Kathy and I agree with Bill Ellis, this is long overdue. You have so much to give and I can’t wait to read your regular posts.
This post is timely, because I am doing a corporate training soon. I will definately bring this to the table.
Thank you, Amy. Much appreciated. Congratulations on your upcoming corporate training session!
Kathy thank-you for this post and ever-so daily reminder to ourselves and one another, who we are responsible for and to!
We must guard against being self-serving, but rather practice enlightened self-interest, that communicates having a servant-leader attitude, that goes the extra mile in encouraging and challenging those one influences…
to be the better best they can be!
And with that, employing “The Go-Giver Way” and the Five Laws of Stratospheric Success will contribute to that end and certain result!