Okay, the title looks like a cheap baby products commercial. I promise: I'm not going to talk about babies. Nothing could be further from the truth actually, I'd like to talk about what I hope will come out of this: friendly adults. 

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Let me take you through my first day at my new client, Primo Marine: I am welcomed with tea and a cinnamon roll. All sweet, smart people coming to meet during the day, a shared lunch and drinks at the end of the day. At the end of the day, I get on my bike and think, "How do some companies manage to make you feel right at home?

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The answer is sometimes hard to put into words. And yet I'm going to try. I think I've unraveled the beginning, which is the feeling you get as soon as you step through the door: 'We're glad you're here.' Whether you've passed that same door 1,000 times or are just doing so for the first time. Every time, this feeling. 

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Right now, all the power cords in my brain are starting to work (if you still don't know why this sentence is hilarious, I refer you to Primo Marine's site). But how do you create that culture? Some tips on that later. First, let's zoom in on where the culture starts: the founder. 

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Indeed, this became clear to me when I met Jaap (founder Primo Marine) on my second day. Jaap is no longer in the office every day. So it was lucky that I met him. A man who has the reputation of asking everyone on arrival if they would like another cup of coffee. He also checks whether everyone is still enjoying themselves. He also joins us for lunch. We don't talk about work during lunch, we laugh, tell stories and take care of each other. Jaap also notes this. His conclusion: 'From now on, can't we extend lunch compulsorily? We just have to eat more'.

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A little later Jaap leaves again, but not without saying goodbye to everyone personally. 'Bye Nina, until next time. You are there every Thursday I understand. I wish you lots of fun with this fine group of people.'

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Jaap, we are clearly speaking the same language. 

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Of course, these are exactly the scale-up cultures at whom we at VIE People love to work. We think company culture is extremely important and I dare say even more so: a predictor of company success. Also the reason why we immediately shove the book: the company culture code - Daniel Coyle, into the hands of every new VIE employee to read from day 1. 

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So I definitely recommend reading this book, because you can feel the power of a strong company culture right away. As a tip of the hat, here are a few tips:

1. Show early on that you are fallible, especially if you are a leader

In interactions, we naturally tend to hide our weaknesses and appear strong. If you want to create safety, this is exactly the wrong move. Instead, you need to open up, show that you also make mistakes and invite people's input.

2. Embrace the messenger

One of the most fruitful moments to create safety is when a group comes with bad news or gives harsh feedback. In those moments, it is important to not only accept the bad news, but even embrace it. Let it be known that you need the feedback, that way you can be sure the messenger will feel safe enough to tell you the truth next time. 

3. Exaggerate with thanks

When you find yourself in a highly successful culture, it may seem like thanks are said excessively often. All that thanking may seem excessive, but there is strong scientific evidence that it encourages cooperative behavior.

4. Make sure everyone has a voice

Easier said than done. Many successful groups therefore use simple mechanisms that promote, highlight and value group contributions. For example, many successful groups have a rule that a meeting cannot be over until everyone has had their say. 

5. Clean up the mess

Putting in the dishwasher, taking a wipe across the table or clearing the lunch table. A mindset in which you look for simple ways to be of service to the group. These actions are effective not only because they are ethical or generous, but because they send a broader message: we are doing this together.

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If you could use some help with this, we would of course be happy to help you on your way. Hopefully all companies will follow the example of my new client, because gosh: the (working) world will look a lot nicer then. And that completely fits the philosophy of VIE People.

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