Culture

Culture. It's a big word, and companies spend millions every year in search of the Holy Grail of innovative workspaces — yet it consistently proves to be the sort of thing that just can't be bought. Why is it so elusive, and how does one create it? Is it worth the effort? CEOs and directors have asked those questions for years. Today we'll talk about the culture at RedKnight and how we're answering some of them on our own team.

A Question of Worth

The question of worth gets a resounding yes. A strong culture is the glue that holds a company together. It defines everything from the recruitment of new team members to daily operations, and it sets the groundwork for how the team interacts with the customer. A strong culture can take otherwise mediocre employees and shape them into vital members of the team.

Culture is the intangible sense of "right" that guides every action within the company, and it can both inspire and tear down. A bad culture is incredibly detrimental — think of the back-stabbing, pettiness, and dishonesty that seemed a fact of life at some job you've held. That was a company that paid no real attention to establishing healthy culture. Good culture, on the other hand, builds the team, drives members to build themselves and their environment, and creates a place where creativity flourishes. Google and Apple built cultures that inspire both creativity and devotion — one doesn't work at Google or Apple, one is a member of the team.

Finding the Elusive Grail

Despite all the money spent on research and assessments, many companies never develop a strong culture at all. At best they prevent the development of a bad one. Why is it so hard? The effort involved. Many companies look for a turn-key solution that simply doesn't exist. It takes buy-in from top to bottom, and it can't be mandated. That much effort on something that doesn't directly generate revenue isn't something many companies will invest in.

The flip side is that some companies invest so heavily in culture that they lose sight of the fact that the company's primary goal is to create profit — and thus to keep employing the team. Culture is a great tool, but the company's responsibility is to stay in business. So culture must be planned, and culture must be meticulous.

Define It, They Will Come

How does one create culture and nourish it? It begins with a simple decision at the top to invest time, effort, and even capital. Next, the theme of the culture must be defined. Finally, a plan must be formed and constantly reviewed as the company grows. At RedKnight, the decision was made early to build a company centered on employing only the best in their fields. We soon realized hiring only the already-best was financially prohibitive and restricted the pool, so we amended the idea to include the potential and growth of the best — allowing us to hire junior members who have all the potential.

So we asked ourselves: what makes up the best people in their fields? The best always seek to grow themselves, and they always ask questions. The best never hoard knowledge — they share it freely to build up the people around them. The best constantly seek out their own mistakes and correct them, acknowledging their limitations. The best never settle for good enough; they always provide more than the bare minimum. With our ideal defined, we set high standards and provide education and assistance at every step, investing in mentorship, tutoring, and team-building — from buying the office breakfast to renting a theater for the team. Most important, we repeat the cultural idiom over and over: we are the best, and we expect the best.

Ad Astra, per Aspera

Through the crucible of life we define who we choose to be and rid ourselves of the dross that holds us back. At RedKnight, we've chosen to be exceptional, and we promote exceptionalism in all we do. There is no settling for good enough, because we are the best, and our culture allows no room for anything less. Culture can be nurtured, but it can't be bought; it can be cultivated, but not mandated. Our culture has defined the direction for every person wearing our lanyard — which is why, no matter which member of the RedKnight team you deal with, you can always be assured of their Exceeding Your Needs.