Creating Culture Within Your Business
There are tangible things that are needed in business like equipment, labor and supplies but then there are also some intangibles that can make or break your business. In many cases it is the intangible aspects of business that actually become more important than the tangible items. One such intangible aspect of a business is the culture within it.

Culture is defined as the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization. Culture is everything to a business. It is the culture of the business that your customers will experience. If the culture of your organization is professional, then your customers will have an experience that imposes rigorous rules and regulations. The culture in your business should be people friendly, free flowing and orderly.

I could go on all week about creating culture within your business but I will sum it up in four principles:

Cast the vision – In order to create culture within an organization the vision must be cast or articulated to those who are to participate within the organization. Make certain that the vision is communicated in its simplest form even if it is complex.

Sell the vision – It is easier to sell the members of the organization the vision when the leader is also sold on it. The leader must believe that this is the vision for the organization and push through the difficulties that will be encountered while managing the voice of the naysayer.

Resell the vision – From time to time the leader will need to recast the vision. It is important to find different methods to resell the vision. Some suggestions include: having people within the organization read a book regarding the topic, a weekend trip, social gatherings, internal slogans that support the vision, incentives that promote the vision and meetings.

Clarify the vision – Please know that along the way the vision my have to be clarified or adjusted slightly. Therefore, it is important to allow the organization’s members to ask questions so that everyone is clear. Clarity of vision will also come through reselling the vision.

If you want to create a certain culture within your organization follow these four fundamental steps and overtime people will either buy into the vision or they will leave the organization.

Vision

Many define vision as the ability to see something to come. In business, that definition in my opinion is very limited.

To me, vision as related to business, has a two dimensional definition: (1)the ability to look in the intangible and see something tangible; while (2) having the ability to either position oneself in a variable manner to take advantage of it or be cushioned from it.

What good is it to know what's coming without positioning yourself in a manner to be protected or to benefit from it? In business we must have this ability or bring someone on board who has this ability. You could be in an industry that is on the brink of drying up! A new invention, fraud, a new law or regulation can greatly impact any industry.

What would you do if the industry where the majority of your income comes from dried up today?

Most people unfortunately can't answer that question. Take some time to think about this.

Vision

What is your vision for your financial future? That might be a tricky question for many people. First we must describe vision.

My definition of vision is the vantage point from where we see a particular thing or situation.

If someone were to walk out the front door of a home in a densly populated city they might see buildings, people and other housesm. But they might not be able to see much further or more than that.

If that same person were to sit on the roof of their home they would be able to see a lot further. The other thing that would happen is the object near to them will appear slightly smaller.

If the same person were to sit in a air balloon about eight hundred feet directly above his home, his line of sight would change drastically. Everything that he looks upon would appear very small.

Those of us who live for the moment are viewing our positions from the first area - the front of the house.

Those that who are able to put their gratification for a few months have a roof top view.

Those who have a long term view are those who sit high atop things and are able to see a bit more.

What perspective do you currently have about your financial future? Think about it before you answer. If you need assistance take a look at your last bank and credit card statements. What percentage of those expenses is helping to build your financial future?