Leaders can’t dictate culture. You have to be able to shape it, but you can’t mandate it, since it’s an organic process which happens as a result of certain behaviors. So how can audiovisual company leaders do to alter their behaviors towards a better company culture?
Matt Wilson of Supervox studied a few AV company leaders he and other NSCA colleagues identified as “those who get it,” asking them about their keys to success in forming positive culture.
He says he learned three key takeaways — ones we’ll describe in more detail below — from talking to them:
- your culture happens in public
- changing culture requires deliberate effort starting at the top
- your greatest lever in changing culture is changing the type of people you have at your company
Keys to audiovisual company culture
Make a discipline out of recognition — inspiring employees isn’t some lofty goal; it starts by giving them the recognition they deserve after any kind of “win”; plus, do they actively search for other skills in employee which may be more hidden but valuable to the company?
Connect with the wider community — good audiovisual company leaders step out of their office more than you’d expect them to; they’re in touch with people from all points in the company and outside the company.
By engaging in community outreach and philanthropy, companies allow themselves to be “seen” by more and in a more impactful way.
“Fit” is a vital part of all relationships — you want the relationships you establish to fit with your business goals.
“Relationships will only thrive when they harmonize with your company culture. Finding the right clients, channel partners, and coworkers can ensure this,” Wilson said.
Employee experience
Recruitment & retention = AV consilience – The more humans learn about the various types of sciences, the various disciplines start to overlap into one central field of learning. The same is true at audiovisual companies in the form of the employee experience.
It all starts with the first phone call, the first day at work, the 90-day review… all the way to succession plans for an employee who is moving on: all of these experiences fall under one central umbrella.
“Clients want to work with someone who is happy to do what they do. Your team can build the knowledge and experience to provide that high level of service, but there has to be a well-tended employee experience.”
“YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS,” Wilson stressed. “If you treat them as such, you’ll see much better results with your — other — customers.”
