Tips on Leadership - How to Build Corporate Culture in Physical Therapy Private Practices

Let's begin this conversation on corporate culture by defining what it is.

The more formal definition is:

"Corporate culture is the collective behavior of people using common corporate vision, goals, shared values, beliefs, habits, working language, systems, and symbols."

The less formal definition of corporate culture can be said in 6 words:

"How we do things around here."
Why does it matter?

Because good corporate culture fosters good employee satisfaction and good employee engagement. Satisfied and engaged employees deliver the highest quality services. And satisfied customers build your business!

How to build corporate culture.

1. To build corporate culture you need a clear vision of how you want your clinic to look and feel and what values you want reflected in your clinic.

This vision must be communicated to your team; your team members need to see the connection between this vision and what they do.

I would even suggest that you formulate your business and practice vision jointly with your team, so that the vision is a part of them and their daily practice.

2. To build corporate culture you, as the practice owner, need to believe in and offer praise and a positive attitude, at all the times.

When we praise someone, they want to repeat the experience.

When we fail to reinforce employees for doing the right things, they unconsciously say, "There's no benefit to doing this, so why bother".

Human beings crave feedback and will avoid situations where they don't get it.

3. Building corporate culture means that you are transparent with information, you explain things to your team, you seek input, and you build trust by doing what you say you are going to do.

Consistent, frequent and meaningful communication is fundamental to building positive corporate culture.

4. Recruit and select the right people who embrace the type of culture you are creating.

It is important to make this a part of your hiring process by asking questions related to practice values, team values, and personal aspirations. Ask for examples or experiences the person has had in these areas to demonstrate what she/he is saying or espousing.

5. Creating social traditions and bonding opportunities for your team also builds your corporate culture. For example, holding annual staff recognition events.

The Golden Nugget:

At the end of the day, your effectiveness as a leader is determined by how well you surround yourself with great people.

You too can become a great leader. Learn from other great leaders!