It is fascinating that in only a few short years, the entire business community has changed. What’s more, it’s only going to keep changing as attitudes and technologies continue to evolve. To stay on top, a business must remain relevant and be prepared to make the most of the constantly shifting market. Endless ideas and tips are thrown at business owners as a result—with the number one focus on adopting an agile company culture. Is agility the only key to success?
Why Company Culture Makes All the Difference in the World
Many experts define company culture as the very personality of a business. It determines the work environment for employees and how customers perceive the brand. Company culture comprises many different aspects, including:
- Mission statement. The founding principle of the company is very important to its culture.
- This is another important factor that affects both employees and customers.
- The size and focus of these goals say a lot about the business—perhaps more than the mission statement.
- Work environment. This considers the overall “mood” of the business and how fulfilled employees feel while working there.
What “Agile” Company Culture Means for a Business and Why It’s Not Everything
If you’re a business owner, you’ve likely heard about making your company culture agile—on more than one occasion. I’ve even spoken about the importance of agility in some of my own articles. That’s because the ability to adapt to change is crucial in this fast-paced world. If you can’t develop new plans and strategies fast enough, then your competitors begin to outshine you.
The ability to change swiftly isn’t the only aspect of company culture with which you should be concerned. It’s also crucial that your business’s personality is just as resilient. Why should it be resilient if it’s agile enough to change? It’s simple: Change doesn’t always happen the way you’d like.
No matter how well you prepare or how much research you do, you won’t be ready for every new development. Sometimes you’re simply going to fall behind. New techniques might prove ineffective, or technology you’ve been working to implement might be a flop. Life is unpredictable for the most part, but one thing is certain—business owners will always face new challenges. Resilience means you’ll be able to pull through the worst of times—and keep your company on track for the future.
Let’s compare your company to a boat. You buy the nicest motor, sleek interior, and powerful steering system available, but your hull is made of glass. Sure, the machine will be impressive, but the slightest damage will cause the boat to begin sinking. Once the glass is cracked, it’s impossible to repair—the entire boat must be replaced. Resilience is using a steel hull instead of glass. It’s tough but also easy to patch, keeping the rest of your investment safe no matter what’s ahead lurking in the water.
Obviously, no one builds boats out of solid glass because they would be too fragile. Yet many companies take a similar risk by focusing solely on adaptability. When you craft a business that’s insulated from the inside, you’re protecting your future.
Everything You Need to Know About a Resilient Company
Your company can display two types of resilience—business resilience and cultural resilience. Business resilience depends upon technology and systems. Data backup plans and emergency alerts help you stay on top of the problem and protect your assets no matter the situation. Cultural resilience is different, but just as important. It is the ability to maintain composure and an effective business image regardless of the situation. For example, remaining optimistic and eager after a technological flop speaks volumes about the mindset of your business.
Cultural resilience is much more difficult to develop than business resilience. It’s easy to download new software but much more time consuming to change mindsets and outlooks. Being able to cultivate this type of company personality is very rewarding—and effective.
The Phoenix Effect
In the same way that wealthy people can lose it all and rebuild again, businesses must be able to recreate themselves after disruption and failure. This is like the legendary phoenix—a mythological bird that was reborn through flames over and over again. The way you react to your trials will determine whether you’ll reach your goals or crumble.
This article was first published on Forbes.
