A strong company culture can benefit employees and customers alike, but creating a culture isn’t always easy. During October’s operational exchange conference call, NATSO members joined together to share their insights on how they are building and strengthening their corporate culture.
Last month I shared Four Ways to Create or Improve Your Truckstop’s Culture from the call. Here are four more ideas.
Share what customers are saying about the business. When you get positive feedback, particularly about employees, share it with everyone! When feedback reveals failures, address it in private.
Have an open-door policy. Giving employees the freedom to share their concerns or discuss their schedules drives home how important they are to the business. During the call, one operator said, “We’ve made it easier for them to come to work, which makes them happier when they’re here. The open door policy makes everyone feel not just like a number or someone showing up to do a job, but it makes them feel like they have a voice.”
Hire for the culture. While hiring is never easy, focusing on job candidates that embody the company culture can help strengthen the culture that is either already in place or that the company is working to create.
Examine your onboarding process. One of the company’s that does a good job creating a cult-like culture is Walt Disney and the entire process starts with onboarding. Disney invests a full two to three days introducing new hires into the traditions and culture of Disney. Think about the ways in which you can spend time with new hires upfront to help them gain a better understanding of the company’s goals and culture.
*Open to all NATSO truckstop and travel plaza members, NATSO Operational Exchange monthly calls provide a forum for operators to discuss operational questions and connect with peers on a single topic.
Limited to 15 operators, next month's call will take place on Thursday, November 12 at 11:00 a.m. EDT, 10:00 a.m. CDT, 9:00 a.m. MDT and 8:00 a.m. PDT. Operators will discuss The New Status Quo: Managing Personal Impact. Those joining in should plan to discuss the following questions: Do you handle change well? Are you flexible? Are you innovative? What is your tolerance for risk? Are you a manager or leader? Plan to share your ideas on the call.
You can register online at www.natso.com/operationalcalls or by emailing membership@natso.com.
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