Just outside my office sits a table full of books. To writers and editors, books are as necessary as food and water, so it’s no surprise that a mini library would be a part of the company culture at Virtucom Group.
What strikes me about this mini library is how it came into existence. It started with a few writers and editors deciding to bring in their favorite books to exchange. That exchange quickly grew into what is now called the VirtuLibrary – where anyone at Virtucom Group can bring in their favorites to share. A small seed of an idea was allowed to grow into something beneficial for our entire company.
Every time I see someone come to the table and browse, I am reminded that company culture doesn’t just flow from the top down – it is a mix of what a company’s leadership wants from its employees, what the company wants to convey to customers and what the employees want from each other.
It also reminds me that company culture matters to both employee satisfaction and the success of a company and its business partnerships. Why? Because success – whether in a career or in business – depends on building quality relationships. A bad relationship can waste your time, energy and money. A great one can take your business or career to the next level. And relationships are at the core of company culture.
So, what makes a good partner? Here are six elements of company culture that are building blocks for great relationships:
- A good partner has a clear vision
A solid mission statement gives you an idea of what you can expect from your relationship with a company. A partner with a clear vision and the ability to communicate that vision will be easier to work with. If you’ve ever been in a personal relationship with someone who was constantly on the fence, you know what I’m talking about. It’s much easier to make decisions for your own career or business when the partner you have is transparent about what they are offering. - A good partner puts customer service first
Working with a company that strives to provide excellent products and services seems like a no-brainer. And, it is. The right partner will view your success as their success. - A good partner lets ideas reign
If a company encourages a positive culture from the ground up, it means the leadership values the employees and recognizes that good ideas can come from anyone. A company with an open culture and a willingness to explore new ideas – a basic prerequisite for creative solutions – is a company that will produce results. - A good partner encourages initiative through empowerment
Empowerment, rather than micromanagement, encourages employees to take ownership of their work. More freedom to find solutions and execute them leads to both happier employees and better outcomes. - A good partner walks the walk when it comes to integrity
Chances are good that integrity is somewhere on the mission and values statement of most businesses. It’s an easy and attractive value to put on the list. The real question is, do they walk the walk? Do they deliver on their promises? When a problem arises, are they willing to make things right? True integrity builds trust, and trust is a necessity for any good relationship. - A good partner gives back to the community
Regularly giving back to the community is another clue that a company is living its stated value of integrity. Are the company’s employees engaged in the community? If the employees are involved with projects that give back, it shows you that the company is rich with people who care about others and believe they can make a difference.
These six elements are by no means exhaustive. A lot goes into a company’s culture and creating positive relationships. What do you look for when developing your business partnerships? When you interview for a job, what do you want to know about a company’s culture? Let us know in the comments section below.
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