Attracting and retaining top talent is crucial for any organization’s success, and it’s well understood that competitive salaries and benefits significantly influence this. However, the intangible elements of company culture often play an even more critical role in differentiating your organization as a desirable place to work. Leveraging the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) model, particularly the GWC principle — Get it, Want it, and Capable — can be instrumental in shaping such a culture. Here’s how to build a company culture that attracts the right people and repels the wrong ones.
Understanding GWC: Get It, Want It, Capable
GWC is a core component of EOS that helps ensure you have the right people in the right seats. Here’s how it breaks down:
- Get It: The individual understands their role, responsibilities, and what is expected of them.
- Want It: The person has the intrinsic motivation and desire to excel in their role.
- Capable: They have the skills, expertise, and capacity to fulfill the role effectively.
By integrating GWC into your cultural framework, you can create an environment that not only attracts top talent but also ensures they are aligned with your company’s needs and values.
Define Your Core Values
The foundation of a robust company culture lies in its core values. These values should reflect what your organization stands for and guide every decision and action. To define your core values, consider the following:
- Mission and Vision: What is the mission of your company? What long-term vision are you working towards?
- Behavior and Mindset: What behaviors and mindsets do you want to encourage within your team?
- Company Goals: How do your values align with your business goals and objectives?
Once you have clear core values, communicate them consistently across all levels of the organization. Ensure they are not just words on a wall but are actively lived and breathed by everyone in the company.
Attract the Right People, Repel the Wrong Ones
One of the key benefits of a well-defined culture is its ability to attract the right people and repel the wrong ones. Here’s how to achieve this:
- Clear Communication: Be transparent about your core values and expectations during the hiring process. This will attract candidates who resonate with your culture and deter those who do not.
- Behavioral Interviews: Use interviews to assess whether candidates align with your core values and GWC. Ask questions that reveal their true motivations, understanding of the role, and capabilities.
- Consistent Messaging: Ensure that your company’s messaging — from job postings to social media — reflects your culture and values consistently.
Foster a Sense of Belonging
People thrive in environments where they feel valued and included. Creating a sense of belonging is essential in building a culture that attracts top talent. Here are some ways to do this:
- Diversity and Inclusion: Promote diversity and create an inclusive environment where every employee feels respected and valued. Embrace different perspectives and encourage open dialogue.
- Team Bonding: Organize team-building activities and events that encourage camaraderie and strengthen relationships among team members.
- Employee Recognition: Regularly recognize and celebrate employee achievements and contributions. This can be through formal awards, informal shout-outs, or incentive programs.
Leadership and Communication
Strong leadership and clear communication are vital components of a thriving company culture. Leaders set the tone for the entire organization, so it’s important they exemplify the core values and foster a culture of open communication.
- Transparent Leadership: Encourage leaders to be transparent, approachable, and accountable. Employees are more likely to be engaged and committed when they feel their leaders are trustworthy and in tune with their needs.
- Regular Updates: Keep employees informed about company goals, progress, and any changes. Regular updates and open forums for Q&A can help maintain transparency and trust.
- Constructive Feedback: Create a feedback-rich culture where employees feel comfortable providing and receiving constructive feedback.
Encourage Growth and Development
Top talent seeks opportunities for growth and development. Companies that invest in their employees’ professional development are more likely to attract and retain high-performing individuals.
- Career Pathing: Provide clear pathways for career advancement and development. Help employees set and achieve their professional goals.
- Training and Development: Offer ongoing training and development opportunities, such as workshops, courses, and mentorship programs.
- Challenge and Responsibility: Trust employees with challenging projects and responsibilities that allow them to stretch their capabilities and grow.
Maintain a Positive Work Environment
A positive work environment is a key factor in attracting top talent. It’s not just about a physically appealing workspace, but also the overall atmosphere and morale of the team.
- Work-Life Balance: Encourage a healthy work-life balance by offering flexible working hours, remote work options, and supporting employees’ personal needs.
- Healthy Workplace: Promote physical and mental well-being through wellness programs, healthy snacks, and activities that reduce stress.
- Fun and Engagement: Infuse fun into the workplace with social events, celebrations, and opportunities for employees to unwind and enjoy themselves.
Showcase Your Culture
To attract top talent, you need to showcase your unique culture to the outside world. Use various platforms and strategies to highlight what makes your company a great place to work.
- Social Media and Website: Regularly share stories, images, and videos that capture your culture on your website and social media channels.
- Employee Testimonials: Feature testimonials from current employees about why they love working at your company.
- Recruitment Marketing: Communicate your culture and values clearly in your job postings and recruitment marketing materials.
Conclusion
Building a company culture that attracts top talent is not an overnight process. It requires continuous effort, commitment, and genuine dedication to your values and employees’ well-being. By leveraging the EOS model and focusing on GWC, you create a culture that prioritizes belonging, growth, leadership, and positivity. This, in turn, will attract the right people who get it, want it, and are capable, while repelling those who do not align, ensuring your company thrives with the best talent onboard.