3 Keys to a Strong Corporate Culture

As an entrepreneur, I most underestimated the importance of a strong corporate culture when building a company. Yes, having a great office, fun toys (like Razor Scooters and a Segway), and free food+drinks set the tone, but they aren’t nearly as important the three areas both Dan Pink in the book Drive (autonomy, mastery, and purpose) and John Bogle in the book Enough (autonomy, connectedness, and competence) identify. Here’s what I view as the three keys to a strong corporate culture, and personal happiness:

1. Autonomy – empowering team members to make and own their own decisions
2. Camaraderie – knowing that others in the company care about each team member on a personal level, especially managers and direct reports
3. Mastery – truly excelling at your given role and achieving a level of confidence and proficiency

My recommendation is to spend time on your corporate culture knowing it is one of the most important things your company can do to be successful. I agree with Richard Branson when he says that employees come before shareholders, customers, and vendors.