How CEOs Can Transform Company Culture Through Communication

A company’s chief executive officer (CEO) is the face of the organization. So when it comes to establishing a strong company culture, they often have the biggest impact.

Every organization wants the kind of strong relationships and positive company culture that will help it thrive, and the CEO is a key driver to achieving these outcomes.

Here’s how you can transform company culture through strategic communications as a CEO.

The role of a CEO in an organization

The role of the CEO encompasses many different responsibilities, and decision-making and guiding the company's direction are a major part of the job. There are numerous high-impact decisions that a CEO must make on a near-daily basis regarding resource allocation, strategy formulation, and internal goals.

Along with having the final say on many major decisions, a successful CEO leads the company in other ways. They are the ones who set an example for the rest of the company. For example, they may need to be a calming presence during crises or a motivating force during times of opportunity.

The company’s CEO is also ultimately responsible for setting, nurturing, and maintaining the company culture. Through direct examples and thoughtful initiatives, CEOs can establish a company culture that aligns with the organization’s mission and values.

How does a CEO shape company culture?

There are a lot of different ways that CEOs can shape company culture, but internal communication lies at the heart of all of them.

CEO communication entails frequent and direct communication with other executives and high-level stakeholders. However, it also includes indirect communication with individuals who contribute throughout the company. To mold company culture from the top down, a CEO’s communication strategy should cover both elements.

CEOs also need dynamic communication skills that help them adapt their communications based on what the situation calls for. 
For example, imagine a company is going through a crisis event, such as a product recall or a data breach. In this case, CEO leadership and communication will need to be much different than when the company is thriving and meeting its goals.

Of course, no matter the situation, CEOs can face challenges when attempting to rally the team. Difficulty building trust, gaps in internal communications plans, and a lack of employee engagement can all be roadblocks to a strong company culture.

To overcome these challenges and establish a company culture designed for success, let’s look at some effective communication strategies for CEOs.

Communicates the vision and mission

Communicating the mission and vision of the company is key to reinforcing the company culture and aligning employees toward common goals. To achieve this, CEOs should start by establishing the right cadence for communications regarding the company’s values, mission, and vision. 

Hosting quarterly or bi-annual town hall meetings is a great place to start. Then, reinforcing the messaging via comms channels like email newsletters and internal memos will help keep the mission and values at the forefront.

When it comes to shaping company culture, this approach will help employees understand their purpose within the organization. The resulting sense of belonging and commitment will motivate employees to give their full effort.

Encourages open feedback

More often than not, encouraging open feedback is one of the defining characteristics of a strong company culture. Strategies like regularly scheduled feedback sessions, employee surveys, and suggestion boxes can help CEOs create a culture that values feedback. 

Encouraging employees to openly share their opinions, concerns, and ideas creates a culture of transparency and trust where every employee feels heard and valued. It also drives continuous improvement and is a powerful way for CEOs to generate the valuable insights needed for improvement and innovation.

And don’t forget to show your employees that you’re listening and actioning their feedback, where appropriate.

Models empathy and understanding

According to the 2023 EY Empathy in Business Survey, 87% of employees agree that empathetic leadership improves their job satisfaction. So it’s important for business leaders to ensure they communicate with empathy and sincerity. 

Best practices like listening to and acting on employee concerns, acknowledging their experiences, and striving to be as open and genuine as possible can go a long way here. When CEOs model empathy and understanding in their communications, it helps build trust and create a more supportive and inclusive work environment.

Inspires employees through changes

Most people aren’t very fond of change, especially at first. However, the ability to change and adapt is a big part of what makes a company successful. 
To inspire employees to embrace change, CEOs must clearly communicate the reason for the change and the value that it will bring. It’s also vital to demonstrate empathy and address employee concerns.

Whether you’re trying to engage remote employees or revamp company processes, inspiring employees to embrace change keeps everyone satisfied, motivated, and on board with company goals.

Leads by example

If you want to establish a positive company culture, leading by example is an essential place to start. As a CEO, you must prioritize integrity, accountability, and inclusivity in both your interactions and your decisions – you can be confident that your employees are watching.

When you demonstrate these characteristics, it encourages employees to adopt the same qualities. This allows you to shape the company culture through your own actions.

Communicates rewards and recognition programs

Regular communication regarding rewards and recognition programs ensures that employees are aware of the opportunities available to them. This can include monthly or quarterly updates on achievements, performance-based incentives, and public acknowledgment of outstanding contributions.

However, the benefits go beyond letting employees know these programs exist. Highlighting rewards and recognition programs shines an even brighter spotlight on the employees who receive these accolades, making them feel valued and appreciated.

Handles crises with poise

Crisis communication is one of the least enviable parts of a CEO’s job, but it’s vital nonetheless. During times of crisis, whatever they may be, CEOs must provide timely updates, guidance, and reassurance to employees. 

They also need to acknowledge employee concerns, demonstrate empathy, and clearly outline the steps the company is taking to address the situation.

How well a company’s CEO handles crisis events greatly impacts how well the entire company responds. By communicating clearly, calmly, and empathetically during times of crisis, CEOs can steady the ship and ensure that everyone is ready to execute the company’s response.

Establishes policies and procedures

When establishing new policies and procedures, CEOs should always strive to involve employees and seek their feedback. It’s also essential to communicate guidelines clearly and consistently, and CEOs must lead by example by strictly following these guidelines themselves.

Well-defined policies and procedures promote fairness, consistency, and accountability within an organization. And communicating these policies and procedures in a clear and transparent way is a major key to ensuring compliance.

How CEOs can centralize communication efforts

There are many different things that CEOs must communicate, and centralizing communication efforts is important for efficiency. But at the same time, it’s beneficial to use a variety of communication channels – both for leveraging the strengths of different channels and preventing employees from feeling siloed.

That said, here are a couple of solutions that CEOs can use to centralize employee communication without shackling employees to a single communication channel.

Employee experience platform

An employee experience platform (EXP) like Workvivo provides companies with an array of communication tools within a single, centralized hub. This includes a social intranet where employees can see posts from company leadership and their fellow team members, real-time communication tools, pulse surveys, and more.

By implementing a modern intranet solution, CEOs can centralize corporate communication while providing ample communication channels.  As a result, CEOs and internal communication alike will be much more effective.

Company all-hands

A company all-hands meeting involves the entire organization, typically including employees from all departments and levels. These events can be virtual or in person, and are an excellent way for CEOs to communicate with their entire workforce at a centralized time and location.

Whether you’re the CEO of a startup company or a multinational corporation, there’s plenty of value in gathering all your employees under one (real or virtual) roof. Just be sure to keep these meetings strategic and focused on the key messages you want to communicate.

Create a connected, empowered team that’s vision-driven with Workvivo

CEO communication plays a major role in shaping company culture. When CEOs leverage the right communication tools and channels, their cultural impact can be even more pronounced.

With Workvivo, you can create a customized social intranet that connects your entire workforce and allows you to effectively communicate key messages. Workvivo’s platform provides a variety of communication tools and channels, enabling organizations to foster a positive culture and increase employee satisfaction.

Sign up for a free Workvivo demo and start transforming your company culture!