Teamwork makes the difference.

When people stop working against each other for recognition and start working together towards providing a terrific product to the customer, great things can happen.

Teamwork

In my mind, there are three levels of corporate culture:

Surface Level (what people do)

Expressed Values (what people say)

Unconsciously Held Beliefs (what people believe)

It is easy to change how your employees act at work. If a manager tells you to write up X form in such and such a way, you are going to do it - or else. Surface Level actions are merely outward expressions of what people are expected to do....the bare minimum. Dress code, being on time, following directions, etc...are all Surface Level expressions of corporate culture.

Expressed Values are more difficult to detect, and also tougher to change. It isn't reflected in a person's dress code, but in the way employees make and explain their decisions. If you listen closely enough to what your employees are saying to each other (and how they say it), a person's beliefs about the job and company become clear.

Lastly, Unconsciously Held beliefs are incredibly difficult to change. These are the beliefs of employees that are so deeply held that they are rarely even talked about. Attitude, dedication, and loyalty are all the outward expression of a person's beliefs about the company and fellow employees.

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