Your company culture is the unique collection of values that defines for your organization what is and is not tolerated, accepted, and lauded. If corporate change sounds difficult, that’s because it is. But difficult doesn’t mean impossible. Sometimes with the help of culture change consultants, organizations are able to change mindsets, decisions, and behaviors that define culture. Cultural change must be supported by those at the top all the way down the organizational chart so everyone can make changes and practice them until they become automatic.

Why Companies Resist Change

Even when there are clear reasons to change, organizations can be resistant. Whether your company is laid-back or strictly by-the-book, introducing cultural change – even with the expertise of a culture change consultant – can be a long, challenging process. Corporate culture is a unifying dynamic, and even if people don’t love it, they’re familiar with it. Change can be threatening.

Besides unfamiliarity, sunk costs are another reason many organizations resist change. This is particularly true if the organization has invested significant time, effort, or money in pursuit of certain business goals. Cutting losses and trying a different approach will almost certainly meet with resistance. But the costs of change don’t decrease if the organization refuses to act altogether.

Knowing When Culture Change Is Necessary

What results do you want your company to achieve? If everyone continues doing what they’re doing now, are such results possible? If not, cultural change is necessary. Furthermore, organizational cultures can grow stale over time. Success itself can generate complacency, as can leaders who overestimate their own importance. When this happens, competitors have a great opportunity to get ahead. Bringing in a culture change consultant adds legitimacy and seriousness to company leadership’s words about wanting change.

Another sign company culture is due for change is when employees act differently when the CEO is around than when he or she isn’t. Strong, effective company culture leads employees to act consistently whether or not anyone is watching. When positive behaviors are motivated from within, and reinforced by the surrounding culture, the presence of the CEO nearby isn’t necessary for great performance.

Positive Changes Successful Culture Change Can Bring

A strong company culture has countless positive effects, including an often significant labor cost advantage. Think about the lists of “Best Places to Work.” These are typically places with strong, identifiable corporate culture, and valued employees are more likely to refer people they know who fit the culture when employment positions open up.

Another tremendously positive change that can result from cultural change is better loyalty among both employees and customers. Think about the brands with the most loyal fans, like Apple. Any corporate culture looking for this level of customer loyalty simply cannot tolerate ineffective behaviors among leaders or front-line workers.

Requirements for Successful Corporate Culture Change

To know which direction to go, corporate leadership has to define what they want the desired culture to be like and reasons why it’s necessary to get there. A corporate change consultant can’t be of much help if company leadership isn’t specific about the outcomes it wants. It’s also necessary to define for every employee why it’s in their personal interest to embrace cultural change. Everyone needs to be able to envision the benefits of cultural change so they’re motivated to make the necessary changes in their day-to-day work.

But cultural change doesn’t mean throwing everything out. There may be ways the current culture works well and can help achieve organizational goals. In these cases, recognizing those cultural touchpoints can reduce everyone’s change-related anxiety. But company leadership must support the desired culture through rewards systems, performance management, and training for change to really gain traction.

Corporate Culture Exists Whether You Define It or Not

Whether you articulate it or not, your organization has its own culture. When corporate culture is ignored, it might evolve in a way that’s good, but then again, it might calcify into a culture that drives away your best people and stifles improvement efforts. Know the goals you want the organization to achieve and learn what changes are necessary to achieve them. Change is hard, but nothing worthwhile is easy.

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