Stronger Culture Means a Stronger Organization
For well over a year now, my news feed has been peppered with articles about “the Great Resignation” and companies scrambling to identify ways in which they can attract and retain talented employees. As the focus of these articles shifted from problem to solution, the conversation (unsurprisingly) turned to creating value through strengthening and improving company culture.
In his book “Culture Code” (which I firmly believe every leader should read), Daniel Coyle explains that “culture is a set of living relationships working toward a shared goal.” I think this is an excellent starting point! Yes, culture consists of many facets (norms, behaviors, principles, ideals), but none of these facets exist in a vacuum. They exist within and because of relationships, and it’s the strength and quality of relationships upon which the success of an organization hinges: whether or not individuals trust each other and trust the organization itself. A team must have a cohesive sense of community to truly collaborate, and individuals must feel seen and valued to truly thrive and become collaborators.
Strengthening this trust means being intentional about fostering community within the organizations, and making wellness, inclusion, and clear communication pillars of the culture. Ultimately, this intentionality raises morale and reduces burnout, which improves retention, which increases efficiency, which increases effectiveness. Your organization will be more successful if you genuinely care for your people.
Creating cultural change in an organization isn’t simple or fast, but there are always steps you can take to start that journey. You are absolutely surrounded by opportunities to create incremental change. They exist in your day to day interactions, the language you use in your policies and processes, the clarity with which you communicate goals and expectations, the way you express appreciation, the way you conduct meetings, and even the layout of your office. Every organization is a community with an existing culture, and everything else is a byproduct.
We all want our organization to be a “well oiled machine.” Your company culture is that oil, so let’s make sure it’s high quality!
Time and again, I’ve heard organizational leaders say that they wish they could make these improvements, “but there just isn’t time to prioritize it.” In my mind, this is like saying “I'm too busy putting out all of these fires to install smoke detectors.” Yes, there is work to be done now, but this will increase your capacity in the long run. The results are in: a happier team is more productive. Aside from that, happier individuals stick around. How many hours would you get back if you didn’t have to go through the hiring process again? If your team didn’t have to pick up the slack? If you didn’t have to train someone new? If you didn’t have to repeat that cycle?
Regardless of where you choose to start, there is work to be done. Your team can be happier, healthier, and stronger, and your organization will be better for it.
Ready to make a change? Contact Erin for to schedule a discovery call!
