For leaders, when overall performance is stagnant or falling, you likely need to improve workplace culture. It’s a concept that can be hard to define but people know when its poor.
I think of workplace culture in terms of:
- Knowing and committing to an organization’s defined goals;
- Demonstrating leadership and accountability, no matter the position;
- A standard of behavior, where you do things like pick up a piece of paper that missed the trash can, even if you weren’t the one who threw it.
Not sure how to improve workplace culture in your business? Consider these tips to get you started:
Lead Singer or Tambourine Player?
In music groups, the person who may not have a lot of talent, might be placed in the background, playing the tambourine. You can have a couple of people doing this but you can’t have a band full of tambourine players.
In your business, this challenge may show up in your staff meetings. Are the seats in the back of the room in short supply, while many in the front are empty? That’s a sign of an engagement problem. It also sees people work in silos, where they only care about their work and not the organization’s success.
You want people, no matter their position, who are engaged in their work, find ways to get better, and believe a high performance benefits all. It’s a philosophy that needs to be shared and demonstrated. In music, you hear it when every member of a band is good.
Imagine Being Watched
We live in a world where there are a lot of cameras. Some have become online sensations for captured moments of bad behavior.
With the knowledge that cameras are everywhere, I’ve modified my behavior at times, not wanting to display actions I might later regret. It’s a mental shift.
On the job, let people know they should always believe their actions are being watched and conversations are heard. In TV news, anchors and reporters are told to assume their microphones and cameras are always live. Otherwise, you may make a blooper that ends up on YouTube.
For those who deal in customer service, this is especially important. An overheard private remark or an ill-advised shortcut, performed in front a customer or client can define your organization’s future. This also extends to gossip on the job.
What Questions Do People Ask?
The questions employees ask can tell you a lot about the workplace culture. Ideally, you want people to say, “How can I help?” when a new challenge emerges. But maybe some are thinking, “Where can I hide?” to get out of work.
Encourage people to really think about the questions they’re asking during challenging times. Over time you can improve workplace culture if employees ask about how they can improve a situation, rather than try to only help themselves.
Big Fish Stories vs. New Goals
Big fish stories celebrate past accomplishments. While it’s good to take pride in the past, sometimes we tell these stories as a way to avoid making tough decisions or accepting a new situation.
Celebrate your past but realize that being named the Company of the Year ten years ago does not guarantee future success.
Has Zoom Made People Passive?
Covid-19 forced many to work from home and their face-to-face interactions were limited to Zoom calls. While Zoom is a useful tool, it can lead to people sitting back and not participating in conversations due to bad connections or not wanting to speak at the same time as someone else.
As you transition your team back to a physical office, make sure you let people know that you value their ideas and opinions. They may not all be followed but they’re heard.
Work needs to be an interactive place and not feel like one-way communication, like watching a TV show.
Let’s Create a Memorable Meeting
