People Before Culture

I have been fortunate to be part of many teams across sports, the military and the corporate world. During this time I have seen many different approaches to building these teams and the mantra’s that the diffrent leaders & organizations will try to rally everyone around. Here are a couple of examples:

”We have a amazing Culture. The best in the business!”

”We must always put the organization first.”

”Company first.”

I have always personally struggled with these war cries. It always seemed to ignore the most important component - the people. Yes, the company’s best interests are important. And a healthy culture is a very important part of any successful company/team. But before you can truly talk about either of these, you have to talk about your people. People will only care about the conpany’s wellbeing if they feel valued and secure. They want to know what’s in it for them and their families. Once you have a group of people that feel they are safe/secure/provided for, you can then really establish your culture; Work hard/play hard. Work with a smile. Friends and coworkers. Open door policy. Your voice, your company. Etc.

I always try to ensure I am spending enough time with the people on my teams. Understanding their expectations of the company. Appreciating their challenges and trying to fix them. Making sure there are no conflicts. Only then will I talk about our culture and how what we do aligns to the best interest of the company. I then communicate how the good for the company is also good for them.

So the next time you want to talk about your culture or what’s best for the company, don’t forget the most important thing you should be embracing first - your people. :)