Stacey Thomson, the Public Relations Manager at Disney Institute offers some advice on building culture in your organization. The culture of any workplace establishment, church community, or non-profit organization, sets the pace for progress, employee and volunteer interaction, and overall morale. At Disney, culture building starts on a cast member’s first day in their Traditions class. From there, new cast members are immersed into a culture that values Disney history, but more importantly where the brand is headed as a company and how it can create magical moments in the future.
Sometimes, culture-building efforts fail, but it’s usually because people are not provided with realistic common goals and objectives. Here are some tips for effective culture building in any organization:
• Don’t complicate ideas: Create tangible goals and leave room for individuality so employees/volunteers don’t feel forced to change.
• Think globally: Each team member, at every level must “buy in” to the culture. This can be accomplished by assessing and working towards an established ‘bigger picture’, while leaving room for employees/volunteers to express their personality.
• Incorporate training and coaching: Provide specific guidelines and measurable feedback from your team.
• Establish rewards: Motivate employees through reward and recognition programs. Try ‘celebrating the everyday’ to establish a culture of employee recognition and appreciation.
