Through various different roles I’ve had, I’ve been tasked with going into businesses, finding the issues and suggesting solutions. Having an outsider come in and try to change things can be really intimidating and uncomfortable for business owners. They can get defensive with protests of “This is who we are. This is how we do things. This is what we stand for.”
As I consultant, I’m never trying to change the DNA of a company. My job is to ensure it is being expressed in a way that creates a thriving work environment and allows the business to fulfil its potential. You can have the best intentions but how your business is operating might have become twisted. Those are the issues I’m trying to unknot.
So let’s define what I actually mean by company DNA, why it matters and signs that the application of it is going a bit askew.
What is company DNA?
Your company DNA is the core of your business. It’s your mission, your vision, your values, your story, how you conduct yourself and what makes you unique. Just like human DNA, there are no exact replicas. It’s what makes your company your company.
However, the way it is applied can vary. It’s like how identical twins aren’t exactly the same. Interaction with the environment has created differences. How your company’s DNA interacts with the environment will change how it operates in the present moment. The application is the malleable part.
Why does it matter?
I understand why business owners are so precious about their company’s DNA. I’m the same. I’ve worked hard to create a solid foundation for my business and what it stands for is really important to me.
It determines every action taken in the business from how you serve your ideal clients, to the user experience you provide, to the culture created within the team. It’s your guidelines for operation. Although, as I’ve said, those guidelines can be misinterpreted or misapplied to create an environment that doesn’t facilitate success.
Signs of unhealthy company DNA application
These are signs to look out for when ensuring you’re acting according to your company’s DNA.
Overreliance on an individual
When building a team, you need to create balance. While as the leader you’ll always hold an important role and have a lot of responsibility, you need to manage the burden of success so you don’t feel like the company will fall apart without you. No one can work at their best ability with that kind of pressure.
I’ve worked with clients who have felt like they were carrying the emotional weight of the whole team and were responsible for everyone paying their mortgages. That’s not healthy. How are they supposed to cope with that never mind help the company move forward? A team is there to spread the workload not increase the burden.
Poor communication
How everyone interacts with each other verbally and through body language matters. Empty compliments are almost as bad as demeaning comments. Openness, honesty and leading with positivity are key to a thriving team. Problems festering or accelerating only create blockades for progress.
Not all issues are intentional so creating a practice of self-awareness, reflection and understanding of different communication styles can make a real difference to the success of a team.
Overworking
This can be a sneaky one. As leaders, we can set work schedules but that doesn’t mean employees stick to them. Often without being asked team members can get into the habit of overworking which will only lead to burnout. This could be because it’s what they’re used to in other workplaces, or because they’re struggling with their workload, or maybe they don’t realise how to look after their wellbeing.
The earlier the intervention here the better. As leaders, we should look out for our team’s wellbeing before any issues spiral out of control.
Fear of failure
In business, you can’t hide from numbers. Yes, the numbers do have an important story to tell. But getting obsessed with them and not taking a holistic approach to success could lead to your downfall. To get good KPIs, team members need to be productive. For team members to be productive, they need to be motivated about their work. The nature of that motivation is really important.
An obsession with numbers often leads to a fear of failure. The fear of failure is an unhealthy motivation. When we act out of fear, we’re acting in survival mode. It’s harder to come up with creative solutions to problems and think outside the box when panic is running through our veins. People perform at their best when acting out of passion and enthusiasm for what they’re doing. They want to reach their full potential and make a positive impact within the company.
Company culture is layered. You can’t take a good foundation of DNA for granted. The application of the core of a business can easily change to create an environment that isn’t healthy for anyone. How you act as a leader has a big influence on the rest of your team.
If you’re worried your business has strayed away from the company DNA you intended and you want to get back to your roots, book a free consultation with me. We’ll talk about how to return to a happy, healthy and successful environment.