Security Sales & Integration September 2022 - 20

INTEGRATION
▶ A quick online search of " company
culture " yields millions of results, all of
which define the concept a little bit differently.
But, in the simplest terms, culture
is how an employee feels on Sunday
night. Do they look forward to Monday
morning and the week ahead? Or, conversely,
do they dread it?
Listen Carefully &
Lead Thoughtfully
For years, we've been sold the idea that
culture centers on workplace extras -
things like colorful and fun workspaces,
free meals, ping-pong tables and
relaxed dress codes. Many of the great
company cultures of the world, such as
those of Apple, Salesforce, Google, Microsoft,
HubSpot and Meta, offer perks
like these.
Yet, when you listen to employees talk
about why they leave their jobs, you'll hear
reasons like poor leadership, inadequate
compensation, lack of challenges, the absence
of a meaningful career path, poor
work/life balance, and the lack of opportunity
to learn, develop and grow on the job.
These criticisms help identify the cultural
attributes that, in fact, help companies attract
and retain talent.
The best ideas about how to innovate
and meet your customers' needs usually
come from your team members. Making
sure that employees can share their
ideas - especially with leadership - is
another cornerstone of a healthy culture.
Provide employees with big, meaningful
opportunities to share what's on their
minds, and then back them up with
your day-to-day behaviors. You'll make
a difference.
Employees who work under great leaders
tend to be happier, more productive
and more connected within their organization.
This has a ripple effect that contributes
directly to the company's bottom
line. But, yet, so many employees feel un20
INTELLIGENCE
HARDWARE NETWORKS WIRE
Cultivating Company Culture
Goes Beyond the 'Extras' by Don Mastro
Employees who work under great leaders tend to be happier, more productive and
more connected within their organization. This has a ripple effect.
der-appreciated right now. The reasons are
numerous, and they include the following:
▶ not getting clear direction
▶ not sensing their manager's trust
▶ not having enough feedback or support
▶ not feeling that their efforts and their
time are respected
Great leaders hire the right employees
for the right positions. Then, they provide
clear objectives, offer regular coaching and
feedback, empower employees to meet
those objectives and get out of the way.
Set the Tone & Take
Personal Responsibility
Employees feel more motivated to
achieve their goals when their managers
help them thrive and provide positive
reinforcement. This doesn't have to be
complicated. It can be as simple as sending
an uplifting email about an employee's
job performance.
You can also be positive when things
aren't going so well. This is where leaders
in the most successful company cultures
make a considerable impact. They're confident
enough to transparently admit their
own mistakes, and they have sufficient
confidence in their team to accept with
grace when others also make mistakes.
Security Sales & Integration SEPTEMBER 2022
Are you setting an open tone? Are you
transparent and candid? Are you providing
the kind of positive energy that employees
look for in their careers? If so,
you're helping to build the type of culture
that's required to retain top talent.
True culture - the kind that isn't manufactured
and that doesn't only appear as
words on the wall - is inherent in everything
a company does.
As we move out of the pandemic and
wait to see how the Great Resignation unfolds,
we're sure to face challenges ahead.
But there will also be opportunities to
create and sustain flourishing cultures
that demonstrate that we value our employees
and our customers.
In my experience, this begins with asking
yourself one simple question: How
can I contribute to this culture today?
Ponder that question frequently. Then,
take personal responsibility to make your
organization a great place to work. That is
how you can build an organization with
a true competitive differentiator to attract
and retain talent.
DON MASTRO is vice president of
sales at global integration firm AVI
Systems and an NSCA board member.
securitysales.com
RIDO/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
http://www.securitysales.com
Security Sales & Integration September 2022

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