Keeping your culture strong as you grow

Delivered byJames CalderChief Executive

Definitions of Culture

the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively

the ideas, customs and social behaviour of particular people or society

the cultivation of bacteria, tissue cells, etc.the cultivation of plants

Why is culture important?Studies have shown again and again that there may be no more critical source of business success or failure than a company’s culture – it trumps strategy and leadership. “Culture eats strategy for breakfast” Peter DruckerWho joins a business with a poor culture?

Our Journey

Our Journey…….Small owner managed businessThe good timesCompany sold in 2007 to private equityRecessionPresent day

How did we do it?Started with the customer in mindDefined the values, wrote it downShared our values across the businessEnsured the whole company is responsible for living the valuesDrove the culture through others, you can’t do it all yourselfNot just top level managers driving the culture throughContinually review the culture, don’t assume everything is fine

How did we do it……..

Built from the bottom, staff develop together and build a bond

Very specific with experienced hiresEvolve gradually blending experience with raw talent65% of our consultants joined as traineesAll of our Associate Directors joined as trainees80% of our leadership team joined as trainees

How did we do it…….

Set high standards but always reward successRecognition OwnershipNever stopped adapting“If the rate of change inside an organisation is less than the rate of change outside- the end is nigh” Jack Welch

Never feared change, always embraced itLearnt from our mistakes

Our Mistakes

Impatient, poor experienced hiresReacted too slowly Allowed the tail to wag the dog

What we did wellCreated a great place to workCreated opportunityListenedRewarded our staff, especially during the recessionActed as we should not as we feltTransparent “your awareness of people’s learning and development needs is first class” - IIP

SummaryDefine what your culture isDrive it through othersBe braveReviewIt takes time to build a great culture but it can be lost very quicklyKeep improving your culture as you grow