10 Lessons I Learned While Building an Unbreakable Company Culture

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A strong company culture is vital to the success of any business. When employees feel happyvalued and supported, they develop a deep sense of loyalty that drives individual and collective success.

In my career, I've built two thriving companies from the ground up – an award-winning music and sound company in an industry that wasn't particularly welcoming to female founders, and a very successful production company with a partner. Both businesses have earned a reputation for it extraordinary talent and their creative output and outstanding company culture.

Interestingly, culture has never been something I've deliberately set out to create. It became a natural byproduct of how I lead and manage my teams. This got me thinking about how great cultures emerge, and one thing I've learned for sure is that a positive culture doesn't come from the days of pizza or taco trucks.

1. Work as hard or harder than you expect others to

As an owner or manager, people look to your example and follow your lead, so communicate clearly. As owners, we took out the trash or washed the dishes. We wanted to be clear that we were never better than any task, and doing these little things removed the “it's not my job” noises from the staff as we all participated in both the big and the small. small ones.

2. No one gets what it takes to own a company, so don't expect them to

Until they do it themselves, you shouldn't resent others who don't understand or empathizing with what you are going through. You took a risk and it's hard, but as an owner, no one needs to hear how much money you lost that month or how hard you worked. Your job is to inspire.

3. Everyone gets wings and a safety net

To grow, people need to feel safe enough to make mistakes. No one is ever in trouble for doing something when their heart is in the right place. Hire people you trust and don't micro-managing those.

We had an employee who showed tremendous interest in running our social networks. It was something I had curated closely, but it was also something I was running out of time for, so I gave it to her. She had exciting and innovative ideas, such as a 'Women Inspiring Wednesday' feature, inspired by being owned by women.

She created a dynamic and extremely cool look and feel for the company. If I had micromanaged her, I might have tried to curb her ideas, but by trusting that she understood the company culture and letting her go, she created value through social media and our impressions went through the roof.

4. Recognize the value of others

Ask your team members how they are doing and really care about the answer. See, appreciate and consider their opinions. Your employees will have ideas and opinions, so be open to hearing them and if they're great, make them actionable. Some of the biggest advances in my company were made by implementing ideas from our staff.

5. Encourage growth from within

Create opportunities for those who earn them. It may be more work to train people and teach them new positions, but it is essential that people see that hard work, creativity and dedication pays off.

We had a staff member in LA who had been with us since she was out of college. She had worked her way up the ladder from customer service and reception to production. We were opening a studio in New York and she expressed a very passionate interest in moving to New York and running the studio. She was young, under 30, but she was so driven that we decided to take a chance.

As a NY studio EP, she has facilitated tremendous growth. Within a year, she doubled her billings along with hiring and managing staff – all things we supported her with, of course, but she was an absolute star. We couldn't have hired someone from the outside who knew the company culture as well as she did and could translate that into billing in a new market across the country.

6. Avoid fostering competition within your team

The outside world is challenging enough; we must always support each other from within. At my music and sound company, everyone—from the sound mixers and support staff to the clients—shared meals together in the kitchen. This shared space fostered a real sense of community, allowing customers to connect with the entire team, not just the mixer they happened to be working with that day.

As a result, customers felt at ease with everyone, increasing the likelihood that they would stay with us even if their favorite mixer was unavailable. This belief also reassured the mixers, knowing that keeping projects in-house meant that future work would follow. A culture of enthusiastic collaboration is the foundation of success.

7. Mediate only when necessary

Not everyone will get along all the time, and that's okay. Listen to both sides and see if they can figure it out independently. If they can't, intervene before it gets too far and they develop resentment or team up against each other. When someone on your team gets that toxic energy, it kills the vibe; there is no room for ego, negativity or the right. If and when the rest of the team sees you stop that behavior, they understand what you will and won't accept.

8. It's a very sensitive thing when people ask for a raise

They are asking for what they think they are worth, and sometimes, the amount they want and the position they are in are unrelated. We had someone ask for a 75% raise because she thought that was what she deserved to do.

Be honest but polite in your response – even when it's absurd.

9. It's okay to be vulnerable when a loss occurs, whether it's an employee or a customer

When we lost an important member of our team, I was crushed. I cried when I had to tell the staff, informing them that I did everything I could, but I couldn't keep it here. Leading with my weakness was difficult, but then the most beautiful and wonderful thing happened.

One of the employees stood up and hugged me, and everyone followed and assured me that it would be okay. I still cry when I think about it because it was the most sincere and beautiful show of support at a time when I needed it most.

10. Buy the cake

Celebrate victories, holidays and birthdays in ways that inspire camaraderie: dinners, bowling, concerts, whatever brings you closer. Take it pride in your team's achievements and share them with them. It's worth the expense and it's important to have fun. Laughing together creates a real bond.

We've had an amazing employee retention rate, with many of the team having been with us for over ten years, and that's really down to some very simple ideals. Lead by example and always with integrity. Listen intently and create a supportive environment where people feel empowered to grow and take on new challenges. Remember that their success is your success.

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