My CEO Life

Now here is an interesting question – “How do you teach the employee’s within your organization about the company’s Core Values and at the same time ensure that your fostering that culture throughout the organization?“

I am not sure “teach” is the right word to use.  I think that you can not create a culture however you must use your best efforts to shape the culture.

Now shaping a culture is quite difficult, especially once you go through 150 or so employees.  (I have 350 employees today).  Therefore it is important that while you are small, you get the basis of the culture right and as part of that, get the core values right.

So, firstly you must decide what type of organization you want to run.  It can be open and egalitarian, it can be hierarchical, it can be dictatorial – it is up to you.  Why?  Well for one simple reason – what you do will determine what is acceptable behavior.

We see it in all walks of life.  It is ok for the US Government to spy on its citizens so what do we see Hewlett Packard doing – spying on its Board members and even the press.

So, what ever you want the place to be, live it in everything you do.  It is by experience that people learn what is right and wrong within the organization.  Work on your lieutenants as they must also live the culture.  If you it right, it will spread like wildfire.

So take my business.  I think it should be egalitarian so i don’t have an office, i don’t fly business and the rest economy, i don’t have any special favors – we are all equal.  We openly value great ideas not position.  I openly chastise those that try to ingratiate themselves with me and we praise great ideas – no matter where they are from.

Other things i do is travel to other offices and just work there for the day amongst the team.  I take people to lunch, shout them beers and just let them know, by action, that i am a normal guy and very approachable.

The best form of teaching is to live the culture and being a CEO, you are always under the spot light …

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