On Company Culture: Better to Give Than Receive

It Begins Inside | Bonfire with Soul Principle #4

By Genevieve Ember, Founder & Lead Strategist, Corling

"It begins inside... Internal culture is an investment, not an expense." - Duke Stump

While I knew things like “Don’t go to the outside world until you’ve ignited the culture within” to be exceptionally true statements, it’s one thing to know that about an internal culture and another to experience that truth in your own company culture.

I also knew how much statements like that mattered for my team, but I had overlooked what it meant to me personally as the leader.

Until 2 weeks ago.

After a frenzied Fall, our team found ourselves on the grounds of Keswick Hall at peak Virginia fall foliage. We were scheduled for a team retreat in the morning, and afternoon of spa treatments to simply invest in all of our wellbeing.

During the morning all the things I longed for to grow our team closer happened–we dreamed, we shared what we were really bringing into today, we cried. We exchanged parenting advice as much as we exchanged ideas for where to go next.  We asked questions about what’s working well and what’s not working well? What does more “fun” in work look like?

But it wasn’t until I was relaxing later in the day, somewhere halfway through an exceptional spa treatment, that it all connected for me as a leader.

This was what made it all worth it.

This was the kind of company I wanted to build, because it’s the kind of place I’d also want to work.

And the desire to do all of this truly felt effortless. Not only did I have zero regrets on this investment, it led me to the age old adage: It is better to give than to receive.

As one of our team members said so perfectly: "The retreat was extremely energizing for me. For the dreaming - yes - and relaxation - also yes - but mostly because of the time spent together and actually getting to know each other as people. And to realize we like each other! There's value to in-person connection in this remote workplace that is essential to company loyalty."

For our team, present and future, I hope I can continue to fuel that sentiment. If our people don’t feel cared for, connected, seen, and valued–why am I doing any of this at all?

In truth, that is where all our future potential begins.

Because without it, I’d fear we’d just “know about” culture instead of experience it ourselves.

Myself included.

Added note: Our team is expanding. Reach out to join us.