Corporate Culture and Productivity

To tee up this discussion, imagine a tree that you are about to plant. The soil you are about to plant the tree in is highly arid and/or acidic. The tree might survive, if enough nutrients and water are provided, but without those it is more likely to wither and die. Even with the proper nutrients and H2O, the odds for thriving are diminished because of poor soil conditions. But in the right soil – with the right nutrients, sunlight and water – that tree will thrive.

That is a good analogy for corporate culture. Is your corporate culture dry? Is it acidic? Is is it dark, too hot or toxic? If so, then don't be surprised if even a potential super star will wither and die in such an environment. What survives in that kind of 'arid' conditions is just what survives in a desert – a prickly cactus!

Looking back a few years, some may wonder why MHProNews created the INspiration blog, why we have the Words of Wisdom by Tim Connor or Featured Articles from writers like Zig Ziglar or Greg McClanahan. The answer in part is that good input enhances good output.

The reverse is the old computer programer's axiom of GIGO; Garbage In, Garbage Out.

Solution orientation, problem solving with a positive goal in mind, these are critical for the advancement of a career, a location, a company or an industry. There was a void in our industry and rather than gripe about it, we sought to provide the solution. We walked the talk.

I'm fine with those souls that point out the problems and then explore those hurdles to see how they can be overcome and capitalized upon. I'm not so keen on those who point out the problems, but are not willing to make the positive effort and sacrifice needed for arriving at a good solution. Anyone can gripe and moan. It takes someone special to solve and build!

As an example, for some, the 'image issue' is only going to be fixed when millions of dollars are spent on high visibility advertising on television as part of a long term, national campaign. It would be fine if such a budget existed, but it doesn't. So does that mean that we simply endure our circumstances?

No! It means we do what we can in our local market to improve the image, set an example for others to follow and then someday it will dawn upon enough leaders that we should indeed invest in our future via an image campaign at the state, regional or national levels. Those who change the local soil conditions will – like those who create a good corporate culture – reap the rewards sooner. We see this time and again with our clientswho make the effort to improve their image, who train their team to do more and thus they reap the results.

If you want to maximize the good for your location, create a healthy corporate culture.

A good culture will cause those who are not so prickly to want to stay around and they will do more and better. It pays off. Encourage your team members to spend 15 minutes a day reading positive, uplifting, goal and solution oriented reading. You don't shower or brush your teeth just once a month! You need to inspire and challenge the mind daily too. Those who do, advance further and faster. Enough said for today! ##

PS: Check our many Exclusive and Red Hot Featured Articles for February and see the

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L. A. "Tony" Kovach