Text us your comments or topic ideas for future shows.What does culture really mean for small businesses? And why does it matter so much for growth and sustainability? In this episode of The KeyHire Small Business Podcast, I sit down with Janneh Wright, the founder and CEO of PRIMUS Business Management. For more than two decades, Janneh and his team have helped small businesses and non-profits “turn their brilliance into sustainable infrastructure.” His framework for success—the Three C’s of Compliance, Culture, and Consistency—offers leaders a way to build strong organizations that last. When asked to define culture, Janneh explained: “When we talk about culture, we’re talking about the experience people have with interacting with your organization—whether it’s an employee or a customer or a shareholder. It’s like the soul of your organization.” Culture doesn’t just happen. If business owners don’t design it, employees will—and that can create a culture the owner may not want. Culture is built on behavior, and it flows from leadership. “However the leader communicates, how they deal with pressure, what they say is always much more important than what’s written down.” Janneh also emphasized that culture starts before the first day of work. It begins with the job description and continues into the hiring process. For example, when hiring, instead of focusing only on degrees or years of experience, you can ask questions like: “How do you respond to a rude customer?” Answers to those questions reveal whether a candidate will reinforce the culture or disrupt it. We also discussed how culture connects to compliance and consistency: - Compliance provides the structure of the business—the policies, legal requirements, and systems. - Culture is the heart—the experience of employees, customers, and stakeholders. - Consistency is the engine—doing things the same way week after week to build trust. If those elements don’t line up, leaders risk losing credibility with both employees and customers. I shared a story about a restaurant where inconsistent customer service changed my impression of the business. Janneh explained how that example showed all three C’s in action: compliance in clear rules, culture in how customers are treated, and consistency in applying standards the same way every time. Accountability is another theme we covered. If leaders allow certain employees or clients to get around the rules, culture breaks down. As I said in our conversation, “Wait and see equals watching good people go.” High performers will leave if they see others escape accountability. Janneh also highlighted the importance of supporting employees: In small businesses, staff often do “job description times two.” When they feel respected and valued, they keep giving more. “A valued employee becomes an entrepreneur inside your organization.” To close, Janneh offered three pieces of advice for business owners: Take your time – don’t try to build culture overnight. See culture as an investment – it saves time and money in the long run. Focus on tomorrow – let your team handle today while you look ahead. This episode makes clear that every business has a culture—whether it’s intentional or not. The Three C’s give leaders a framework to make sure their culture strengthens their business instead of holding it back. Connect with the Experts  Learn More about Janneh: www.PrimusCO.com  Follow us on YoKeyHire Solutions helps small business owners scale smarter, not harder. From hiring the right talent to building systems that work, we give you the strategies and support to grow your business without burning out.Learn More at www.KeyHire.Solutions

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