Inc. 5000 Entrepreneurs Say These Are the Key Elements of a Strong Company Culture
Inc. 5000 Entrepreneurs Say These Are the Key Elements of a Strong Company Culture
A strong company culture is essential for success. Here, Inc. 5000 entrepreneurs share their insights on the three elements that define a thriving workplace culture.
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Culture can make or break a company. Or, as two of our Inc. 5000 Community members aptly summarized, “Culture is everything.” A strong, positive workplace culture can drive employee engagement, enhance customer satisfaction, and ultimately contribute to the overall success of a business, as a recent study by Gallup underlined. And a bad one can lead to high turnover, decreased productivity, and a negative reputation.
Recently, Inc. 5000 Community members shared with Inc. Editor-in-Chief Mike Hofman insights on how their company culture influences their success. Read on for more of how they use it to set themselves apart and attract top talent.
“Wow! Culture is everything. Without it, teams struggle. The key is how you communicate, cultivate, and preserve it. I believe culture isn’t something you form; it’s an extension of who you are as a leader. Our company values reflect our personal values, and therefore, our culture extends who we are as people.”
— Gina Anderson, Co-Founder, Luma
“Trust and a culture aligned with a greater purpose are vital for us, especially in understanding who it is we are helping to get home.”
— Paul L. Gunn Jr., CEO, KUOG
“Company culture is probably the most significant factor on the list of many things that help keep small businesses successful. People love not only to work for the company but also to be present every day. Culture impacts that. Everyone loves to matter in the things they spend time on, and what better place to matter than in your workplace and family?”
— David Delancy, Founder, One Day Came
“Our whole strategy is culture. As a consulting business, where service is everything, the only real asset we have is our people, and their interactions are entirely driven by culture. We’ve spent many years developing ours because, as they say, everyone must meet the golden triangle of cost, quality, and delivery. We can’t compete as effectively on cost or delivery, but quality—i.e., culture—is entirely within our control.”
— Bill Austin, CEO, Bill Austin & Associates
“I don’t think there is anything more important. It basically dictates how you operate, how you treat your clients, how you hire, promote, and fire.”
— Avetis Antaplyan, Founder, HireClout
“Culture can define how you engage with clients, so get the culture wrong and the client experience could be wrong as well.”
— Jonathan Tofel, Founder, Mission Field
“Company culture is the foundation upon which strategic plans are built and executed. It shapes talent attraction and influences retention; culture fuels employee engagement, empowers teams to make decisions and problem solve, and ultimately, drives the company’s success. A well-defined and intentional company culture can also turn into one of your strongest competitive advantages; after all, no one can steal your culture—it’s as individual to a company as DNA is to a human.”
— Andrew Gray, CEO, Virtus
“It’s the single most important factor. The few times I’ve hired someone that wasn’t a great culture fit because they had great experience, regardless of skill set, it hasn’t worked out.”
— Lauren Raimondi, Founder, All Aces Promotional Staffing
“Our entire strategy is built on the vision, core values, and culture of our business. It’s why people work for us and why people work with us. I think most companies are kidding themselves if they think culture doesn’t directly affect sales, operations, and ultimately revenue.”
— Alex Hayes, Integrator, CATALYST Integrators
“Company culture is what defines us and guides our every decision. We work so differently than any of our competitors, and that’s culture-driven. We hire not just for skill but, most importantly, for culture fit.”
— Jesus Repetto, CEO, Titanium Tours
“It is absolutely at the core of our operations. Compensation, benefits, etc., are just table stakes—human beings want to know their work is recognized and desire to be part of something bigger than themselves. Along with making our core values central to our dialogue with one another and not just words on paper, we chose to align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. We do quarterly projects our team votes on in the community, and we even launched a company magazine showcasing our employees, featuring photoshoots, profile stories, and our vendor of the year on the cover.”
— Brad Stevens, Founder, Outsource Access
“Culture is everything. Joy at work and a positive attitude require constant effort, but they pay incredible dividends.”
— Carl Coyle, CEO, Liberty Resources
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