No matter how well you plan, your business’s culture can easily slip away when you relocate from one office to another or from one state to another. You’ll have a new location, and the unique characteristics of that location will come with it—a new climate, new traffic patterns, new demographics of employees, and perhaps even different cultural norms and expectations than you’re used to.
How do you keep your company culture strong as you move into your new office? Here are some tips from the leading national moving companies on keeping your company culture strong through relocation.
Do your research
When it comes to the culture of your company, many factors can affect it. One of these is location. When you relocate or even just move your office, it’s important that you set up the right conditions for your company culture to thrive. Check out these three things that you need to do to make sure your company keeps its culture strong through relocation:
1) Consider how far employees will be traveling.
2) Remember that the environment needs to feel like home. Bring some of your old decor and furniture with you when moving.
3) Host an event so people can meet each other and bond before work begins again.
Where do you want to go?
Think about how the relocation will affect your employees. Will you be able to relocate them all? Will you be able to find affordable housing in your destination city? What should you do with staff who have lived in the same neighborhood for years and are not keen on moving out of their comfort zone? There are many ways to keep company culture strong through a relocation: create opportunities for team building and social activities, encourage people to explore different aspects of the area, or even set up designated days where employees can explore new neighborhoods or parks.
Why do you want to go there?
It’s not unusual for companies to move from one city or country to another. In the U.S., companies can relocate for tax purposes, to find the best talent and resources, or simply because they want a change of scenery. The most important thing is that you make sure your company culture is strong no matter what.
What are the challenges?
The company culture of your company is an important aspect of your business. It’s what defines the values, morals, and atmosphere in which people work. When you move into a new space for your business, it can be hard to maintain that culture that you worked so hard to create.
Here are some tips for how you can keep your company culture strong through relocation.
1) Be mindful of different cultural backgrounds in the workplace: If there are employees from different cultures on your team, make sure to consider this when moving. For example, if you have employees who come from different religions or regions with specific diets, be sure to accommodate their needs as well.
Do you have the support?
It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs in the tech industry to find themselves moving from one city to another. The average relocation is about a three-year stay before moving on. Maintaining your company culture can be difficult when you are constantly uprooting and setting up shop in new cities, but with some preparation and planning, you can make sure that your culture is alive and well no matter where you set up shop.
The first thing you need is buy-in from your team. If your employees aren’t excited about their work and the company culture, it will show in their work and can negatively impact your ability to retain talent. Ensure that all of your employees understand why you’re making this change as well as what they’ll get out of it personally. You should also have an idea of how long you plan to stay at each stop along the way so everyone has an idea of what they’re committing to.
Make sure you understand the requirements of your employees when they are relocating. You must be combining a wide range of cultures to build a strong and ethical culture in your workplace. These tips will come in handy in ensuring a smooth transition and a positive environment at your office.
