Corporate culture is important. Employees want to work for a company that shares their same beliefs and values, and has a culture they can see themselves growing in. As an organization you’ve probably already developed much of your corporate culture. Maybe you always have cake to celebrate important milestones, or allow employees to work on special projects one afternoon a week to foster innovation. But how do you communicate other important, and potentially less exciting, facets of your culture?
Take security, for example. How do you demonstrate to your employees that security is not just limited to strong passwords? While it might seem difficult to get your employees fired up, there are many ways to integrate a focus on security into your corporate culture. Here are some suggestions:
Communication
Communicate the importance of security to your employees regularly. There are many different approaches to communicating, so decide what works best for your business and plan accordingly. Informal town halls, or internal emails that provide relevant security tips can both be catalysts for important discussions on security topics within your workplace.
Commitment to learning
Staying on top of the latest breakthroughs in security means being committed to education. Ask staff what they’re interested in learning about and host seminars and guest speakers on the topic. A continued focus on the topic of security will keep it top of mind.
Practice what you preach
If you want employee buy-in, you’re going to need to drink your own champagne. Be involved in discussions, make yourself accessible to receive feedback and attend training sessions. If you’re genuine and enthusiastic in your efforts it will be noticed.
Reward exceptional behavior
Everyone likes to be rewarded for a job well done. If you notice an employee that’s going above and beyond when it comes to security endeavors, whether that’s championing an in-office initiative or informally teaching another employee about security features on their computer do not hesitate to offer a small reward.
Security is an important component of your workplace – make it known to your employees and celebrate their commitment to your mission. Over time it will become another important component of your corporate culture.
How are you working to integrate security into your corporate culture? Let us know in the comments below.