In a previous post we discussed the importance of employee engagement Improve Employee Engagement in Your Cleaning Operation. This week we will take that discussion a bit further and look into the topic of creating a winning culture within your operation. Being able to establish a culture that is dynamic, focused, and forward-looking can be the difference between being an industry follower or a leader. A few basic considerations that will help you achieve that objective.
Understanding Where You Are
The first step is self-evaluation. What are some of the principle characteristics of your current culture? Are you driven exclusively by bottom-line results? Are you primarily focused on the immediate---the here and now? Where do your employees fit into the big picture?
Those questions are not easily answered. Self-assessment can be a tricky proposition. Objectivity is the key. In some cases, bringing in a third-party consultant can add objectivity to the assessment process. Using an unbiased consultant---someone with no preconceived notions about your company culture---can result in revelations and recommendations that may have been hard to uncover via an unassisted self-assessment.
Measuring and Closing the Gap
Once you have completed an assessment of your current culture, you can start to assess the gap between where you are and where you want to go. Creating a winning culture will require that you take steps that will close that gap in ways that can be quantified, qualified, measured, and reinforced. Some of the components of this process would include:
Inspiration from the Top
The leaders within your operation should be the agents for change. Nothing will zap support and motivation within your cleaning operation faster than leaders that do not practice what they preach. When properly led, you will find that your employees are much more likely to embrace the cultural changes you are promoting. Inspire your leaders and empower them to inspire the rest of the organization.
Establishing Clear Objectives
What will be the key characteristics of your winning culture? Boil those down to just a few traits than be easily communicated. Those characteristics can be related to:
Communication and Education
Creating a winning culture requires a commitment to communication and education. Avoid working in a vacuum. Give your employees early visibility into what you are doing and why you are doing it. Where appropriate, give them a voice in the process.
Reinforcement
Once your positive momentum has been established make sure it is maintained. Do not make the mistake of thinking the momentum will continue without due diligence on your part. Many company culture changes die on the vine due to lack of ongoing reinforcement.
Creating a winning culture within your cleaning operation will not happen overnight. But, with commitment and hard work you can effect changes necessary to enhance your chances for long-term success.