People Management & HR

A positive company culture starts from the top down

  • 3 min Read
  • April 11, 2022

Author

Kanika Sinha
Kanika Sinha

Kanika is an enthusiastic content writer who craves to push the boundaries and explore uncharted territories. With her exceptional writing skills and in-depth knowledge of business-to-business dynamics, she creates compelling narratives that help businesses achieve tangible ROI. When not hunched over the keyboard, you can find her sweating it out in the gym, or indulging in a marathon of adorable movies with her young son.

Table of Contents

Company culture is a responsibility shared by everyone in an organization. However, it can’t happen in the absence of strong leadership. At its core, workplace culture is how people inside the business interact with each other, which is learned behavior rather than a by-product of operations or an overlay. 


And it all starts at the top. Culture comprises everything an organization’s leaders do, from whom they hire to whom they listen to, from what they discuss in meetings to what they prioritize and even how they invest the firm’s money. These behaviors reflect the firm’s values and habits, and in turn inform how people within the organization interact with each other and work together.


Decoding the role of a leader



Here’s a comprehensive look at the three key roles leaders play in workplace culture: 


1. They manifest the company’s values and goals




Great leaders exude a sense of positivity and fairness. They provide an example worth emulating and a meaningful environment. In so doing, leaders turn their personal values and beliefs into companywide ones, informing its goals and brand personality. 


What happens if there is a change in leadership? Perhaps the leader who championed positive culture moves up, and their replacement has different ideas. It depends on how successfully the firm’s leaders have already communicated their shared values and goals. If they are deeply ingrained among the team, as well as sufficiently prosocial, the positive work culture may withstand the change.


2. They set benchmarks and foster engagement




There’s no shortage of research confirming that engaged employees are more productive and contribute more to the bottom line. It is the job of a business’s leaders to cultivate engaged employees who work to better themselves and the company. Leaders should clearly communicate the answers to questions like: 



• What does it take to excel in the organization? 


• What steps are required for employees to move up the company ladder?


• How does leadership provide feedback to employees? Is this done only at annual reviews? 


• What upskilling or educational opportunities are available for employees?



In addition, leaders set expectations for how employees engage and interact with one another. This goes back to the idea of the workplace environment: Are ideas exchanged freely, including with the C-suite? Do employees feel empowered to exchange actionable feedback among themselves? Does leadership reward learning from failure as reliably as it rewards success?


Probing the answers to these questions helps leaders shape a positive culture.


3. They set the tone for life beyond the workplace




The phrase “tone at the top” describes how leadership culture cascades down throughout the organization. More specifically, it means leaders determine to what extent an organization and its employees value things like transparency, integrity, open communication, optimism, respect, walking the walk and much more.


Today’s workplaces are not just a collection of strangers, nor are they detached from the rest of society. This puts business leaders in the position of molding not just employees, but also citizens and neighbors.

Talk to our team today to learn how Escalon can help take your company to the next level.

  • Expertise you can trust

    Our team is made up of seasoned professionals who bring years of industry experience to the table. You gain a trusted advisor who understands your business inside out.

  • Quality and consistency

    Say goodbye to the hassles of hiring, training and managing in-house finance teams. You will never have to worry about unexpected leave of absence or retraining new employees.

  • Scalability and Flexibility

    Whether you’re a small business or a global powerhouse, our solutions scale with your needs. We eliminate inefficiencies, reduce costs and help you focus on growing your business.

Contact Us Today!

Tap into the latest insights from experts in your industry

People Management & HR

2025 Employment Law Updates: What to Know

As we step into 2025, businesses across the country face several important updates in labor laws and employee benefits. Staying...

Read More
Startups

5 Signs Your Startup Needs an Outsourced CFO  

5 Signs Your Startup Needs an Outsourced CFO   Startups often operate with lean teams, but as they grow, financial complexity...

Read More
Leadership & Growth

CG Startups: How to Keep Costs Low While Scaling Operations 

Consumer Goods Startups: How to Keep Costs Low While Scaling Operations  Scaling a consumer goods startup requires a careful balancing...

Read More
Press Releases

Escalon Expands Its Reach: Full Stack Finance and Early Growth Join Forces with Industry Leader 

Escalon Expands Its Reach: Full Stack Finance and Early Growth Join Forces with Industry Leader  In a strategic move that...

Read More
Taxes

Delaware Annual Review: What Series A-C Startups Must Know to Stay Compliant 

Delaware Annual Review: What Series A-C Startups Must Know to Stay Compliant  For startups incorporated in Delaware, staying compliant is...

Read More
Taxes

Tax Planning for Startups: Preparing for Your First Tax Filing

Tax Planning for Startups: Preparing for Your First Tax Filing as a Growing Business  For many startups, the first major...

Read More
Taxes

Unlock Tax Savings with the R&D Tax Credit

As a startup, managing cash flow and minimizing expenses are critical to your business's survival and growth. One often-overlooked opportunity...

Read More
Accounting & Finance

1099 Compliance for Early Stage Startups

1099 Compliance for Early Stage Startups As your startup grows from seed funding to Series A, B, or C, you’ll...

Read More
Accounting & Finance

Meet the Experts at Escalon: Ankush Sharma

Welcome to our new series, Meet the Escalon Experts, where we introduce you to industry leaders shaping your business’s future....

Read More