Culture is the King

In today’s context, Culture of an Organization is the prime differentiator between a good and not so good company, however it is the only differentiator between a good and GREAT company!!!

The reason for this is as follows:

• All performance is driven by Culture
• Competitors can copy Product/Services/Branding but cannot copy CULTURE (Sustainable Competitive advantage)
• Convey right perspective to all Stakeholders
• Help to imbibe Organizational Pride which is critical to hold on to the talents
• Trust & Commitment
• Loyalty & Passion
• Emotional Bonding
• Contribution to Success
• Ability to reach out to clients
• High Performance
• Creativity to think differently
• Sense of ownership

The best way to develop Culture in a Company is through the 4 way approach -

1. Awareness & Reflection – Some of the tools for doing so are as follows
   • Employee Survey
   • Trust Index/Trust Audits
   • Benchmark Cultural Practices
   • Study Missions/Awareness Workshops
   • Action Planning Workshops
   • Communication – Communication - Communication
   • Ownership Building Events
   • Stakeholders Feedback
2. Capability Building – can be managed through the following initiatives
   • Leadership Training & Coaching
   • Training of the Line Manager
   • Coaching & Mentoring Skills
   • HR (Gurukul/Sherpa Approach)
   • People Leadership Assessment
   • Incubation approach
   • Rituals & Programs
   • Repetition & Sustenance
3. Promotion & Engagement – this is important and can be facilitated through the following measures
   • Vision/Mission/Core Values (Review periodically)
   • Culture Alignment
   • Internal Branding
   • External Branding
   • Leveraging Unique Attributes
   • Aligning EVP with Customer Value Proposition
   • EVP to Attract & Retain
   • Innovation@Workplace
4. Institutionalization – last but not the least this approach creates sustainability and scalability
• Design of People Systems & Processes
• Implementation & Support
• Create High Performance Culture which facilitates to execute Strategy
• Align Total Reward Strategy to Business Outcomes
• Establish Emerging People Paradigm – Employee as an Investor
• Aligning Leadership to Culture Building

Contributed By:
Mr. Ranjan Sarkar
Senior Vice President - HR & Corporate Communication,
Acclaris Business Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

An Obituary printed in the London Times

Interesting and sadly rather true.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: -

• Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
• Why the early bird gets the worm;
• Life isn't always fair;
• and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

Source: The London Times