Culture isn’t only for yogurt.

When running a business, seeking competitive advantages should be at the forefront of your mind. One of the greatest advantages you can have over your competitors is having the best employees possible. Your employees are the foundation of your confidence that you can deliver amazing work to your clients. But, as you will know, hiring the best employees isn't as easy as it sounds.

It isn't as simple as just outbidding your competitors and paying the highest salaries. Potential employees don't just seek salary, but rather a good work environment; one where they will be happy. So, if hiring the best people for your team is the goal, how is it achieved? The answer is relatively straightforward: businesses that build the best culture, will attract the best employees and thus can deliver the best work to your valued clients.

But what is culture? Culture is everything about the business. It's how everyone in the business works together; the unspoken rules of the workplace, how your employees treat each other and clients, along with all the little habits and actions that happen daily in the workplace, for example, do your employees genuinely care for each other; does everyone greet each other in the morning and say goodbye when leaving; do your employees offer to make coffee for each other when making for themselves, or offer to help when one employee looks to be struggling.

Companies often hire culture consultants to come in to a perform a "quick-fix" on the office culture. But this is not needed. There is an easier and more legitimate way to create an attractive business culture and that is to set the culture by example; organically, from the top down. You should be responsible for your company's culture. Your employees will take your lead and follow it, they will replicate your actions. So, if you are late to work some days, they will come to work late some days too. If you talk in a rude manner to your employees i.e., those more junior than you, then your employees are more than likely to talk rudely to the other employees more junior than them. If you are constantly checking Facebook and Instagram throughout the day, then your employees are most likely also going to be constantly checking their social medias.

The key point here is that if you want to attract the best employees and thus serve your clients well and ultimately grow a sound business, you need to create a culture that you would want to be a part of. Create the workspace you would love to be employed at and you will be well on your way to establishing a great and recognizable culture for all to enjoy.