Culture Survey

What is a Culture Survey?

Culture is the shared vision, mission and values that guide the thinking and behavior of groups and individuals. Herb Keller, the former CEO of Southwest Airlines famously said, “Culture is what people do when no one is looking”. A Culture Survey is a best practice tool to understand some of those unspoken perceptions and attitudes as well as support everyone with alignment and commitment. It is a great way to determine if the people you are depending on understand your game plan or your way of doing business.

A Culture Survey differs from an Employee Survey from one basic standpoint: A Culture Survey is the “We” perspective. An Employee Survey offers the “I” perspective.

Why Do It?

Helps to properly define vision, goals, mission and values.
Can provide insight on how to best define the team Game Plan to ensure common understanding and engagement.
Effectively eliminates the most significant problem often plaguing organizations (see below).

A Significant Problem Most Organizations Face

The root of underperforming organizations is a lack of common understanding and direction. When team members miss or have differing views of the group’s history, current state and direction, along with a lack of awareness of the code of conduct (we call this rules in sports) expected by all players, there is certain to be disfunction.

Executing a Culture Survey

A simple letter is sent (John M. Ruh and Associates can help with this) by the company President/GM to employees explaining what the survey is about and why it is being done.
Simple direct survey questions are created with you and your leadership team.
John M. Ruh and Associates distributes the surveys to all participants. Responses need to be done by a third party so people feel safe to complete the survey with honest answers.
Results are summarized into a consolidated format and are discussed with you.
The results can be used to effectively clarify the culture and address gaps, and work begins to complete a written, user-friendly Game Plan with all of the key cultural elements.
An implementation plan can be developed and put in place that makes it a process vs an event to always keep your culture alive and well.

Does it Work? See Testimonials

Introductory offer

A one-month complementary partnering agreement to start the process of getting to know you, your culture and people.

Suggested Workshop

What is Company Culture?

A basic explanation of company culture
Discussion of why it is important
How to define your company culture the right way

Learn More: 16 Blogs on Culture

Direct and To The Point

What I have enjoyed about working with John is his quick grasp of what were my values for our team. Respect is such a key value for us, and John buys right into that and helped us learn the communication styles that would protect this while improving our overall performance. John is direct and to the point and focuses on what the client really wants as the key drivers.

Fred S.

Chairman of a 90 Year Old Privately Held Company

Teaches How to Communicate Effectively

Working with John on redefining culture: John takes the time to understand an organization’s dynamics before he comes up with a game plan. He then teaches everyone how to communicate effectively with each other and gains buy in from everyone. Once this has been completed, John has laid the building blocks for a stronger team which will then be able to establish a vision, mission and values for the entire organization. Since he is able to gain buy in from everyone he has established a stronger culture which can lead to dynamic organizational change.

Paul M.

Partner, B-B CFO

Get to Know a Company’s Culture

I have worked with John Ruh and Associates for many years. They really get to know a company’s culture through interviewing the leadership team as well as the people on their staff to get a full understanding of company values, successes and pending issues. They even do surveys when needed. Everything is fully understood and in place before any Game Plan is developed and implemented to assure a successful outcome.

Debbie R.

Sr. Project Mgr. and Sr. Recruiter

Crystallize Our Mission, Vision, Goals and Core Values

John helped our company crystallize our mission, vision, goals and core values into a written game plan defining our culture. This game plan helps our employees and stakeholders stay on track and brings clarity on where we are going and how to get there. John’s guidance and patience during this sole-searching process was invaluable. I highly recommend companies of all sizes partner with John to assist in building a solid foundation for their business.

Jeff B.

President / Entrepreneur of National Privately Held Firm

A Great Resource

I have known John Ruh for several years and continue to enjoy every conversation I have with him. When talking to John, two things will happen: 1. You will laugh. 2. You will learn something. He is such a great resource and I am grateful for having him in my network.

Bill H.,

CEO

United Us on Our Path Together

John Ruh and Associates was employed to assist us in building a cohesive leadership team that was focused on a common set of goals. John’s incorporation of DISC profiling and training was extremely instrumental in helping us develop the ability to be clear in our communication with each other. We developed an appreciation for each other and the unique way in which we all communicate. His guidance on our first company game plan united us on our path together. We built an effective, communicative, and focused leadership team that now has the tools to take it throughout the facility.

Kim H.

Plant Manager of Manufacturing Company

Understand the Roots of Our Culture

John and his team took the time to understand the roots of our culture, and then developed it into an asset for growth and support for my architectural team. The process was easy and painless, but challenged me and my staff to think differently.

Cyrus R.

Principal

Passionate About Supporting Leaders

John Ruh and his team are passionate about supporting Leaders and Team Members to achieve their potential through outlining individual and company goals and creating a plan to achieve those goals. John and his team bring a wide variety of customized support to break through old and non-functioning patterns within the culture, and in the end his clients achieve a culture that works for the employees and their customers. John is generous with his complimentary consultations—give him and his team some time, so you can see if he is the right fit for you!

Tracy L.

Continuous Improvement and Women empowering Women Coach

A Culture that is Consistent with Your Values

John M Ruh & Associates are truly expert at discovering who you are and what you want your company be. They will help you develop a culture that is consistent with your values and keeps you on track to achieve your goals. And they will put this in writing, in a manner that will allow anyone to know who you are, where you’re going and how to successfully partner with you.

Scott U.

Entrepreneur / Playwright / Recruiter

Expertise, Leadership Skills, and Energy

John has worked extensively with Cornelius for over a year across a wide range of consulting assignments. We initially appointed him to assist in synergizing our team in the fast paced business that we manage. We have been greatly impressed with his expertise, leadership skills and energy that his role has expanded to include support with culture development, creation of a business Game Plan, and ongoing people development. John’s support has been invaluable during a period of significant change for Cornelius and I would fully endorse his excellent interpersonal skills, breadth of knowledge and communication approach.

Tony C.

General Manager

A Powerful Unique Culture Statement

John and his team partnered with us to unwind who we are as firm (and individually) and packaged that into a powerful unique culture statement that is helping us to support and grow our business.

Cyrus R.

Principal

A Unique Game Plan to Rollout

We have partnered with John Ruh to help identify our culture and needs for structure in our workplace. He identified our DISC profiles to help us better understand ourselves and better communicate with each other. He met one-on-one with leadership to dive deeper into understanding our needs and ensuring that we take care of ourselves so we can take care of the company and employees. This has been invaluable! He also helped us create a unique Game Plan to rollout to the company. Thank you, John!

Jill H.

HR Director

All Because I Changed the Culture

Culture is so important for business success. At one point in my career, I took over an under-performing manufacturing operation and in 18 months grew sales 50% and profits went through the roof. All because I changed the culture and it wasn’t very hard. The owner was actually embarrassed. I still don’t know anything about manufacturing, but I know how important culture is. To learn more, I highly recommend John Ruh and Associates. Insightful, caring and a lot of fun to work with.

Jim W.

Business Consultant, CPA and Networking Expert

Unique and Highly Effective

John has been a big help by enlightening me on the importance of culture. By focusing on it – after learning that as the head of the company this is among my greatest responsibilities – I have noticed a big improvement in the productivity and happiness of my team. Plus, viewing each employee as an individual with specific needs and ways of dealing with others is something I had taken for granted. John’s approach is unique and highly effective.

David G.

President/Owner of International Franchise Firm

Transitioning Our Organization to a New Structure

Ruh and Associates improved our company culture by helping create value expectations for all employees across the business. They also improved collaboration by understanding DISC profiles and how best to communicate with a given style that might be different than your own. John and his team were very helpful in transitioning our organization to a new structure.

Jim G.

CFO

A Tremendous Resource

John Ruh has been a tremendous resource in assisting me in achieving a better work-life balance and in figuring out ways to better handle the wide variety of professional challenges I encounter on a daily basis. I recommend John’s services enthusiastically and without reservation.

Jonathan W.

Managing Partner of loop law firm

John is an Excellent Guide

John Ruh possesses a unique form of wisdom that requires you to look inside yourself. For all of us who struggle to be better at who we are, John is an excellent guide.

Joe B.

President / Entrepreneur

Invaluable for High Performance Teams

Culture is one of, if not the most, important determinants of your organization’s success. Understanding how to build and maintain the right culture that reflects your values and your intentions is a tricky proposition to navigate. John M. Ruh and Associates can be your guide in this critical endeavor. Their experience, knowledge and proven approach is invaluable for high performance teams looking to continue in pursuit of excellence or in turnaround situations where “a miracle” is needed.

Todd S.

General Manager

Crystallize My Understanding of Culture

John helped me crystallize my understanding of culture and the importance it is to our company’s success. A company’s culture is an understanding of shared values and beliefs by its employee and leadership team. A strong culture encourages employees to be innovative, solve for the customer, and encourages continual learning and exploration. Culture can’t be forced or dictated by upper management but supporting a healthy culture and nurturing its growth or initiating changes, should be as important of a goal as improving revenue. In fact, a healthy and supportive culture can be the key part of an organization’s long-term success.

Allison C.

Entrepreneur and SEO Leader

A Culture That is Strong

In the rat race world that we live in we are so focused on getting to the top it becomes very easy to forget how the actions we take effect more than just ourselves. John has an ability to breakdown your business to understand what is important to the entire organization. This creates a culture that is strong enough to break through any and all obstacles that come your way day to day.

Ryan S.

Entrepreneur

Enhanced Our Company Culture

John Ruh and Associates enhanced our company culture and empowered each of us to be better versions of ourselves working together. John worked with us on communication related skills which significantly helped our interactions. We developed a game plan for our company which would come all the way down to department level and individual level game plans. He makes sure that each individual develops personal game plans and receives support in this regard.

Maryam M.

Accounting Manager in Manufacturing Company

Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast

John has a deep understanding of the classic phrase ‘culture eats strategy for breakfast.’ He has a keen awareness of the power of alignment of a team toward a goal. He has a way of pragmatically bringing into focus the moving parts of a team from a culture and values perspective in order to bring about a more effective end result for an organization.

Bryan V.

President of Executive Peer Group

Blogs

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