I like this video from Sean-Delaney because it helps explain why culture is important and why you need to start thinking and working on your culture from the very beginning.
“ING Direct CEO Arkadi Kuhlmann, discusses how culture can and should be created by design, and that the best cultures are based on principles, values and the behaviours that support these. You can influence this by selecting the people on your team and shaping their behaviours with a set of principles, Kuhlmann suggests.
Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com, says it’s important to hire people whose personal values match the organizations values. Zappos’ core values were developed with staff input as the company scaled. Everyone hired at Zappos goes through two interviews — one for job skills and one for culture fit. To protect the culture, people must pass both interviews to be hired at Zappos.
Bernie Marcus, co-founder of The Home Depot, says its is culture centered around what the customers needs are and what the Home Depot team should believe in. The culture 30 years later remains “love the customer, and love each other.”
Shelly Lazarus, Chairman of Ogilvy and Mather, oversees 18,000 people and believes that culture is “all important”. Lazarus notes that while CEOs can’t touch every employee personally, they can ensure the culture is well understood and valued. Leaders must walk the talk to authentically bring the culture to life.”