Establishing a Culture of Appreciation

What is your company culture? Not the culture you think you have or want to have – but the culture you really have. Multiple research reports and news articles are reporting company cultures turning to ones of fear, rumor mongering and resentment due to the faltering economy.

It is more important now than ever to establish a company culture that will drive the employee productivity and company performance levels to carry you through the recession and prepare you for a solid start out of the blocks when the economy turns. We at Globoforce advocate a culture of appreciation in which employees are recognized for their efforts and they also understand why those efforts are critical to the company achieving its strategic objectives.

Jason Corsello blogged about this topic at the Human Capitalist blog where he discussed the unique and highly successful culture Southwest Airlines has been able to establish. Southwest is certainly unique and I’ve blogged before about how their culture is a defining facet of their success.

Southwest co-founder Herb Kelleher has said: “You have to treat your employees like customers. When you treat them right, then they will treat your outside customers right. We honor our people constantly. They know that we value them as people, not just cogs in a machine.”

Customer service is paramount in today’s economic environment. This is exactly the point American Airlines – and numerous other foundering companies – fail to realize. Driving employee engagement by recognizing and rewarding employee efforts will always improve employee efforts on behalf of the customer. And happy customers increase your bottom line. It’s truly as simple as that – say “thank you” frequently, appropriately, and consistently to the people that matter the most – your employees.

Tell us about the company culture to currently have and perhaps the culture you would like to have in comments. If you’ve been a part of changing your company culture for the better, tell us how.