Five ways to maintain company culture during periods of growth

By Mae Strehlow

Growth is a good thing. And while it’s usually good for a business’s bottom line, it can also come with growing pains that may create culture challenges, especially if a company is growing rapidly. But maintaining the culture that spurred your growth doesn’t have to be a struggle, no matter how big your workforce becomes.

Define company culture and communicate it often

Your company’s culture may be obvious to you, or maybe you’ve never stopped to think about it. What would employees say about the culture? And how would you describe it to new hires? If you haven’t defined your workplace culture, start by thinking about which values contribute to your success. Then consider how you work together internally and externally with customers and partners. Lastly, what is the company known for or what do you want it to be known for?

After you define your culture, communicate it repeatedly to ensure it remains a focus. Gift employees something they’ll use that will be a constant reminder of your culture, such as a branded ceramic mug or vacuum tumbler. You could also purchase polos for employees and encourage them to wear the shirts on a certain day of the week or on special occasions to show unity.

Make company culture part of onboarding

One of the best ways to sustain culture is to share it with new employees during onboarding. It will resonate even more if you use examples of how company values are put into action. For example, if giving back is one of your values and paid time off is provided for employees to volunteer, be sure to mention it when talking about culture and benefits. If appreciation is a company value, consider giving new employees a gift, such as a metal pen or laptop backpack, to thank them for joining the team. It will remind them of your company culture every time they use it.

Foster open communication

Encouraging open communication across the entire company is another way to ensure culture is maintained regardless of workforce size. This can be done formally or informally. If a team is having problems, remind them of the importance of communication and discuss the issues openly to figure out a better path forward. Encourage managers to check in with employees regularly. Conduct companywide employee surveys. Be sure to share the results and act on feedback if needed.

Recognize employee contributions and achievements

Most people like feeling appreciated, and that can be done with something as simple as a companywide email or lunch to celebrate accomplishments. Encourage managers to acknowledge employee birthdays, work anniversaries and other milestones. If a recognition program centered around values doesn’t exist yet, consider creating one and handing out awards to those who best exemplify your culture.

Be willing to adapt your culture as needed

As organizations evolve during growth, the culture may need to change to meet the needs of employees and the business as a whole. The culture that worked well for 10 employees may not work as well when you have 100. To hire and retain the best talent, stay aware of trends, ask for employee feedback and be willing to adapt to changing needs.

Keep culture top of mind during company growth

When companies grow, it can be easy to lose sight of culture, especially during rapid growth. Defining and communicating culture often can help maintain the contributing factors behind your success and fuel future growth.

Mae Strehlow

Mae Strehlow has 23 years of importing and merchandising experience at 4imprint—and 15 years in international and domestic retail before that—bringing nearly four decades of expertise to the promotional products industry. Over the years, she’s worked across a wide range of product categories, but drinkware is where her true passion lies. Mae thrives on product development, whether it’s creating exclusive private label lines or collaborating with suppliers to turn market trends into practical, successful solutions. She loves the challenge of refining shapes and styles to meet the unique demands of the promotional products industry. She believes that transparency, collaboration and a shared commitment to success—both internally and with 4imprint’s vendor partners—are what truly sets 4imprint apart.

All marks are the property of 4imprint or their respective owners.

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