Great company culture: The key to business success and growth

Great company culture is the secret behind the growth and success of the most successful companies in the world. Company culture is an incredibly important ingredient of the 'successful business' recipe.

Take companies such as Apple, Airbnb and Virgin for example. All of these companies are well aware of the importance of fostering a positive, encouraging company culture. They know that having a great company culture can help them attract and retain top talent and foster innovation which gives them a competitive advantage.

This is why they work hard to build and promote a winning company culture. What can we learn from these crazy successful companies and how they view and foster company culture?

Company culture lessons from Apple, Airbnb and Virgin

Here are some valuable lessons on fostering a positive, encouraging company culture from the successful companies such as Apple, Airbnb and Virgin:

Lesson #1: Why is a company culture so important?

“Corporate culture is the only sustainable competitive advantage that is completely within the control of the entrepreneur.”

-  David Cummings, Co-Founder of Pardot

Lesson #2: How to build a great company culture?

“There’s no magic formula for great company culture. The key is just to treat your staff how you would like to be treated.”

- Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group

Lesson #3: Company culture spreads from the top

“There is tremendous teamwork at the top of the company which filters down the teamwork through out of the company.”

- Steve Jobs, Chairman, CEO and co-founder of Apple

Lesson #4: Company culture is the key to innovation

“A company’s culture is the foundation for future innovation.”

- Brian Chesky, Co-founder and CEO of Airbnb

Lesson #5: Make sure you company culture is authentic

“In this ever-changing society, the most powerful and enduring brands are built from the heart. They are real and sustainable. Their foundations are stronger because they are built with the strength of the human spirit, not an ad campaign. The companies that are lasting are those that are authentic.”

- Howard Schultz, CEO, Starbucks

Lesson #6: Hire for cultural fit

“Shaping your culture is more than half done when you hire your team.”

- Jessica Herrin, Founder, Stella & Dot

Lesson #7: Never underestimate the power of company culture

"Culture eats strategy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."

- Peter Drucker, Management Guru