Sep 08, 2014 By Paul Alves

Company Culture: What's Your Company's Mood?

in Cloud

When I think about my company’s corporate culture, I see an ever-changing mood. In general, it’s good: positive, energetic, enthusiastic. But on some days, it’s not so much.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what we at AG Salesworks can do to ensure our company is always in a good mood. Like people, companies also enjoy the many benefits of a good mood. AG is one of those fortunate companies, and we see the benefits of a successful company culture in our work. We do a lot of the right things to ensure this happens, but I also believe it’s possible to achieve a consistently high-level company mood if the right effort and process is applied.

So what are the best practices to ensure you and your company reach and maintain that optimal mood?

On a personal level, I need to exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and take time for daily routines like running with my dogs on the beach and hanging out with my wife and two boys. As simple and easy as these tasks may seem, it’s easy to get off track on any and all of them. When I do, I tend to get a little cranky. The same holds true for a company: not doing the little things consistently can lead to getting off track. Companies can get cranky too, and cranky is never good for anyone. Don’t let yourself or your company get cranky; instead, stay focused on what's important and be disciplined in doing the small things every day that add up to a high energy, positive, kick-ass culture.

Some of the things we do at AG to ensure we maintain a great mood are:

Communication: People love to know what's going on—both the good things and the challenges. I believe you cannot over-communicate. If given the opportunity, your team will provide valuable insight to help with challenges you consistently face and will be energized by all the positive changes going on, leading to further positive energy.
Consistent reinforcement of core values / vision / purpose: It is important to constantly speak to the purpose, vision and core values of your company. Why do we all come to work everyday, and what does that mean to each person specifically?
Fun: Are we having fun as a company? We have monthly events as well as summer and Christmas parties that give us the opportunity to hang out as a team outside of the work environment.
Learning/Training: Everyone wants to improve and feel good about their professional abilities. It is critically important to create an environment where team members are constantly challenged to improve.
Recognition: When your people do a great job, thank them both privately and publically. They deserve it. It makes them feel appreciated and motivates others to raise their game.
A “No Jerks” policy: If you have a jerk on your team, you know who they are. Fire them—period. Nothing hurts a corporate culture like having a jerk in your midst. Only hire and retain great people. After all, great companies are made up of great people.
A cool office environment: To the extent your budget permits, make your office as inviting as possible. Your team spends a lot of time in the office; it should be a comfortable environment.

I must admit, while we do a good job at AG, there is still so much more we can do. I have committed recently to redoubling our efforts in this area, so much so that I am redefining my role to include company culture as a top priority. Someone has to own culture and commit to keep focus on what is important: the why of what we do, our purpose. I am currently putting in place a formal plan and process to reinforce and take AG’s culture to the next level, with a goal of becoming the best place on the planet to work. Got to think big right? I’ll keep you posted on the details and progress.

About the Author

Paul Alves is Chief Executive Officer and co-Founder AG Salesworks. He started the company in 2002 with his business partner and AG Salesworks President and Chief Operations Officer, Peter Gracey. In his current position, Paul is responsible for developing and executing long term corporate strategy and building overall company value. When he’s not at work, Paul enjoys spending time skiing and at the beach with his family, cooking and practicing Bikram Yoga. Paul earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Marketing from Plymouth State University. Connect with Paul on LinkedIn and don’t miss out on Sales Prospecting Perspectives!