{"id":4434,"date":"2024-05-14T12:41:58","date_gmt":"2024-05-14T16:41:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/4forward.com\/?p=4434"},"modified":"2024-06-27T20:55:55","modified_gmt":"2024-06-28T00:55:55","slug":"shaping-workplace-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/4forward.com\/2024\/05\/14\/shaping-workplace-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"The Power of Workplace Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"
C<\/span>ulture affects every aspect of your organization\u2019s functioning \u2013 from individual employee engagement to teamwork to program management to overall results.<\/span><\/p>\n Unfortunately, as leaders we get so caught up in meetings, daily operations, and short-term firefighting it\u2019s easy to forget that all these actions are wrapped up in our organization\u2019s culture.<\/p>\n In his article Closing the Massive Gaps between Culture Awareness, Education and Action<\/a>, Tim Kuppler notes that most organizations fail to connect culture and strategy. He says most strategies are predetermined by culture in ways leaders don\u2019t realize. Excellent strategies can be torpedoed by culture, yet leaders usually don\u2019t realize the saboteur, and may instead blame others, or circumstances.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you get the values and culture right, success will happen.\u201d \u2013Tony Hsieh, CEO, Zappos<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n So how do we ensure our workplace culture supports our organization\u2019s success? In the TEDx presentation Creating Organizational Cultures Based on Values, Ann Rhoades, a leading expert on building values-based organizations, identifies what high-performing, values-based organizations do very well:<\/p>\n Observe what tops her list\u2014defining values and their associated behaviors. From this wellspring emanates your organization\u2019s culture.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As an example, Rhoades shares a story from Southwest Airlines. A man books a last-minute, urgent trip to visit his dying grandson. He arrives at the gate just as the plane is about to depart. The flight attendant reaches for her phone. Given that he\u2019s sure he\u2019s missed the flight he assumes she\u2019s making arrangements for another flight, and that he has lost the chance to see his grandson one last time. But instead, within a few minutes, the plane\u2019s captain arrives from down the jetway to personally escort him on to the plane.<\/p>\n Southwest\u2019s values were so well defined and so well embedded in its culture that its employees instinctively knew how to behave in this situation.<\/p>\n According to Bill Howatt<\/a>, Chief Research and Development Officer of Work Force Productivity with Morneau Shepell, culture begins with senior leadership who, with their people, define parameters with respect to vision and values. He says culture shapes the story for how people are expected to behave within a workplace. This impacts their workplace experience.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let\u2019s take a look at Howatt\u2019s advice on actions leadership can take to shape culture:<\/p>\n Define the ideal state<\/strong><\/p>\n Regularly and objectively measure the culture<\/strong><\/p>\n Culture shaping<\/strong><\/p>\n The influence of workplace culture on your organization\u2019s success is irrefutable. Leaders must play a seminal role in defining, shaping and maintaining it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Enhancing workplace culture isn’t only about setting strategic objectives or defining values; it’s equally about fostering a sense of community among employees. When people feel connected and part of a cohesive group, their engagement and productivity often increase, directly influencing the overall success of the organization. Here are some practical tips for leaders aiming to build a stronger community within their workplace:<\/p>\n Promote Open Communication:<\/strong><\/p>\n Encourage Social Interactions:<\/strong><\/p>\n Implement Mentorship Programs:<\/strong><\/p>\n Recognize and Celebrate Success:<\/strong><\/p>\n Invest in Community Service:<\/strong><\/p>\n Support Professional Development Goals:<\/strong><\/p>\n Create a Learning-Focused Environment:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
Successful Company Culture<\/h2>\n
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How to Improve Workplace Culture<\/h2>\n
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Fostering Engagement Through Community Building<\/h2>\n
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