The Restoration Leader’s Culture Audit: Is Your Team Built to Thrive?

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines culture as “the characteristic features of everyday existence (or a way of life) shared by people in a [particular] place or time.”

Put differently: Culture is a living thing.

And like any other living thing, it needs careful maintenance and eternal vigilance to flourish and thrive. In the world of property restoration, great culture can be the difference between high team morale and retention and low employee motivation and—by extension—turnover.

But with a million things on your to-do lists and so many fires and storms to handle, how do you know if your culture is truly working?

Enter: A quick culture audit inspired by chapter 5 of our latest book, Building Leaders. Use this checklist—created from conversations with restoration leaders like Andy Amrhein, Marcie Richardson, and Steve Willis—to evaluate your organizational culture and identify areas for growth and improvement.

Try it out below:

Core Values: Are They More Than Just Words?

• Have you clearly defined your company’s core values? 🮕
• Are these values visible in day-to-day operations? 🮕
• Do team members understand and embody these values? 🮕
• Do you reinforce these values and have cultural champions? 🮕
• Would your team members agree that your values are defined and visible in day-to-day operations? 🮕

Why This Matters: In Building Leaders, Marcie Richardson reminds us that leadership is crucial in setting the tone and direction for the company’s culture.

“You have to speak what you want to see. If you’re not speaking the language, you can’t expect others to do that, and you need to do it consciously and intentionally every day as a leader, or the culture will not succeed.”

Hiring: Are You Bringing in the Right People?

• Do you prioritize cultural fit as much as skills and experience? 🮕
• Are you asking interview questions that align with your values? 🮕
• Do you have a structured onboarding process to integrate new hires into your culture? 🮕

Why This Matters: Andy Amrhein emphasizes that culture starts at the hiring stage. Bringing in people who align with your values sets the tone for everything that follows. “We’re upfront with new hires— this isn’t just a job; it’s an opportunity to grow and contribute to something bigger.”

Feedback: Is It Constructive and Consistent?

• Do you provide regular, actionable feedback to your team? 🮕
• Are you open to receiving feedback from employees regardless of their position? 🮕
• Do you employ a multi-pronged & multi-channel approach to feedback? 🮕

Why This Matters:  Steve Willis understands that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to feedback, so he tailors his communication methods to how each audience prefers to receive information, optimizing engagement and reinforcing cultural values.

“It’s about keeping the conversation going,” Steve explains, “making sure that everyone, from franchise owners to frontline employees, feels connected to our mission.” This approach creates a culture of inclusivity, where everyone feels valued and heard.

Flexibility: Can Your Culture Adapt?

• Do you adjust processes based on team feedback?  🮕
• Are you open to evolving your culture as your company grows?  🮕
• Does your team feel empowered to make decisions in unpredictable situations?  🮕
• Are your workers free to explore their work styles within a supportive framework? 🮕

Why This Matters: As many of the leaders interviewed in Building Leaders remind us, no two days are the same in the restoration industry. Thus, leaders who stay adaptable inspire their teams to do the same, increasing resilience and creativity in them.

Growth: Does Your Culture Build Future Leaders?

• Are your team members given the chance to prove themselves? 🮕
• Does your team feel empowered to speak up, challenge ideas, and contribute to the ongoing development of the culture? 🮕
• Do you provide coaching to prepare your team for tomorrow’s success instead of focusing on today’s problems? 🮕

Why This Matters: In Building Leaders, Steve, Andy, and Marcie each show us that cultivating future leaders requires both nurturing and structure—encouraging growth while keeping everyone aligned with a shared vision. By combining intentionality, strategic hiring, and continuous coaching, they ensure their organizations are not just built to last but thrive.

How Did You Score?

If you checked every box, congratulations—your culture is on solid ground! If not, don’t worry. The stories and strategies in Building Leaders offer practical advice to help you strengthen your culture and empower your team to become the best version.

Ready to take your culture to the next level? Download Building Leaders today and start transforming your workplace into a hub of trust, collaboration, and growth—all with the overarching aim of building tomorrow’s leaders.