Culture = investment

The same way you might buy a nice jacket or dress for going to business meetings, your full attire must include a decent business bag (not an old scuffed backpack from your university days), a smartphone that has a working screen (I know that cracked screens might still be functional, but they send a strong message: repair me!) and a laptop that can run the length of your presentation without you running for a power plug. It is important that you demonstrate preparedness and ease of use: have all dongles or connectors on hand (connect to beamer, plug adaptor…), and handle all maintenance actions well before you get in front of your audience. Make sure that all your software is up to date and that you have current licenses for all of it -there is nothing worse than tainting your presentation with a pop-up error message that screams “I can't update my hardware” or “I had to hack into this program”. All of this has a cost but it is a reasonable one. Not only can these costs be deducted as a business expense, this investment allows you to be more efficient, promotes an honest and organised culture and, maybe, gives you the satisfaction that comes from using and understanding leading edge tools.

Good culture and good image = better business

It is important to highlight that it is not about showing off. I need to highlight this one. Showing off could be interpreted as being shallow and interested only in appearances rather than your innovation and value. A Show-off culture is dangerous and it wears out quite quickly. You have to be true to yourself and to the image you wish to convey.

Here are 3 easy rules to remember:

1. Put energy and effort into your culture and image, do not copy or imitate. Be your own while keeping in mind what the mirror shows you and what you show to all, be they suppliers, customers, investors, partners or competitors.

2. Make your culture known. It is your business card. It is the envelope in the mail that will disseminate your innovation, your ideas and your company to others. You culture is stronger if it is visible and consistent at all levels of the organisation.

3. Be sure about yourself and know the tools you are using: the right tool for the right task.

Give us examples about how your culture has helped you grow and reinforce your business, we are interested to know more about your findings and life experiences.