In this final article of our series featuring wisdom from Daniel Coyle’s book The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups we revisit establishing purpose and explore some valuable and practical takeaways to help you foster a healthy company culture.

1. Harness the Power of Catchphrases

Although they may seem cliche or cheesy, catchphrases can clearly communicate industry best practices and help set expectations. Choose phrases that are straightforward, simple, and action oriented. For instance, “Measure twice, cut once” conveys that accuracy and waste reduction are important and reminds workers to take the time to re-check their work before using materials.

2. Measure What Matters

Concentrate on metrics that reinforce your culture and commitment to work quality and beware of those that can encourage bad habits. For example, although time spent on a jobsite is a contributing factor to profitability, an emphasis on measuring it could backfire if workers feel pressured to reduce time on their projects and make mistakes as they rush through jobs. Conversely, a focus on monitoring customer satisfaction may yield better long-term results because it directly correlates to maintaining a strong work ethic and doing the best job possible.

3. Display Mementos of Your Team’s Successes

Have you received thank-you cards from customers to express gratitude for your team’s work? Or perhaps there’s a softball from your last company outing that has a funny story behind it ?

By prominently displaying physical objects with special meaning, you can strengthen your team members’ sense of unity and common purpose.

4. Set the Bar for Best Practice Behavior

Some employees may find it challenging to translate a company’s values and mission into concrete actions. So, consider what everyday tasks epitomize the culture you’re building.

For example, if you’ve embraced the catchphrase “Sweat the details,” spotlight your punch-list process. Review the steps with your team and explain the connection between your punch list and your company’s goals and objectives. By zeroing in on a specific task, you can hammer home the concept that attention to the little things really does matter.

Missed our past posts in this series? Check them out now!

• Building Safety: Part 1, Part 2
• Sharing Vulnerability: Part 1, Part 2
• Establishing Purpose: Part 1