Company culture is the foundation of a company. Every company has a culture even without trying. At its core, it's acceptable behavior in a given environment. What about being intentional about your culture though? Since it is so foundational, thinking about the type of culture you want to create is crucial. Here are some thoughts on creating the best company culture. 

1) Company Culture, The Engine that Fuels the Company from Your Own Brand

"A culture can generally be described as the practices and values that are shared by people within a certain group.  A company culture, then, is the shared practices and values of the employees within a certain company.  The culture within a company is very important because it can really help a company thrive, or break it down.  Companies that have good cultures that are lined up with their overall business goals will generally out perform competition.  In order to make the most of your own company’s culture, you need to figure out what culture you currently have, what you would like to have, and how you can make changes to improve it."

2) Moral Leadership Builds Employees, Company Culture And Bottom Line Results from Forbes

"An employee isn’t designed to be treated like a piece of a machine—like a cog or like a bolt. For a leader to treat employees this way is immoral. It also doesn’t make business sense: A bolt can’t stretch to help a customer; it can only be a bolt. But a person, inspired by a leader, can stretch a bit to the right or left to be helpful—and thus build the value of your business.

3) To Build A Great Corporate Culture, Start With Your Strongest Link from Forbes

"Let’s talk, for a change, about the strongest link in your organization, the effect a single great employee can have on a company culture. But first: There’s no truer truism than the one that says your organization is only as strong as its weakest link. Not only is this sentiment completely true,  it’s completely frustrating. There’s nothing worse as a business leader than to watch your team do everything right, 90 percent of the time, then have one dud employee slip through your hiring process and ruin your reputation with customers, txting his girlfriend right in front of the guests he’s supposed to be checking in.  This scenario causes even the most conscientious business leaders to lose sleep."

4) Secrets and Whispers: No Way to Build a Healthy Company Culture from Huffington Post

"People love a good story. And for some, the story is all the more compelling if it's filled with lurid details of the human condition like lying, cheating, and backstabbing. That's why some people gossip: It provides the ability to tell someone else's story and insert one's own "spin" (truthful or not) on the events. It's part of human nature, this insatiable curiosity that draws us to interpersonal drama."

5) Think Culture is About Ping-Pong Tables? You Are Wrong from Entrepreneur

"One of a founder’s most difficult tasks is recruiting and retaining top talent. When you’re hiring individuals with specialized, in-demand skill sets such as programming or business analysis, you need to position your company as an attractive, obvious choice for potential employees. Many startups focus on creating an amazing company culture to distinguish themselves. But too often, founders -- and potential employees -- wrongly confuse perks with culture."

6) How Good Office Design Can Recharge Your Company's Culture from Inc.

"A healthy company culture is important for any business interested in both attracting and retaining talent. But that doesn't mean companies always get it right. Seventy-two percent of entrepreneurs polled recently report feeling unsatisfied with their company culture as it currently stands, according to turnstone, an office furniture retailer, which compiled the survey. Separately, some 30 percent of owners find it difficult to build a really motivated team, and many wish to have more office perks for their employees."

Lexi Gordon is a Lead Consultant for exaqueo, a workforce consultancy that helps startups and high-growth companies build their cultures, employer brands and talent strategies. Contact exaqueo to learn more about how we can help you build a workforce that’s aligned with your company culture and develop an employer brand that will allow your business to scale the right way.