Cultural Traits of Performance Organizations

Have you ever noticed that some organizations seem blessed with perpetual good luck, while other organizations seem doomed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time?
For the companies that move from success to success, there's probably more involved than just good fortune—it may be their cultures. There are a number of cultural traits that can have a significant effect on organizational performance. These traits are:
# involvement
# consistency
# adaptability
# communication

Involvement:
Does your organization strive to build human capabilities? Do the employees feel a sense of ownership and shared responsibility? If you can answer yes to both of these questions, then your organizational culture exhibits involvement, one of the traits affecting performance.

Use the following methods to encourage and maintain involvement:

• Empower employees with the authority, initiative, and ability to manage their own work. This creates a sense of ownership and responsibility toward the company.
• Place value on working cooperatively toward common goals to which all employees feel mutually accountable.
• Develop capabilities to meet future needs. Invest in the development of your employees' skills.

Consistency:

Organizations that exhibit consistency are able to reach agreement on critical issues. They have the ability to reconcile differences when they occur. Coordination and integration allow different functions and units of the organization to work together well to achieve common goals. Boundaries don't interfere with progress.
Consistency can be achieved by adopting a set of shared values that creates a strong sense of identity and establishes clear expectations.

Adaptability:
Another important cultural trait is adaptability. Adaptable organizations are able to read the business environment, quickly react to current changes, and anticipate future changes. These organizations understand, react to, and anticipate customers' needs.

Communication:
Is it important to share a meaningful long-term direction for your company with employees at every level? Communication is the fourth cultural trait of effective organizations.
Effective communication embodies core values and captures the hearts and minds of the organization, while providing guidance and direction. Clear communications convey the organization's purpose and make it obvious how everyone can contribute. When communication flows in all directions—from the top down, and from the front line upward, every employee feels free to share information, both good and bad.

Cultures vary from one organization to another, and even from one department to another within the same organization. They may differ by individual autonomy, organizational structure, rewards, and interpersonal relationships.