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Building a Positive Culture
‘Culture will always eat strategy for breakfast’
Neil Carr OBE
Imagine a workplace where
- Everyone is inspired to give of their best
- There is a giving rather than taking mentality
- Everyone knows what is expected of them, and feels valued
- Individuals feel trusted and respected, and give the same in return
- Autonomy is given in return for accountability
- Truth is the norm, and openness and honesty is encouraged at all levels
- Winning is a habit, to which everyone contributes
In my life I have been both a loser and a winner. And being a winner is much more fun. In any organisation, that organisation either wins as a team or loses as a team. Individual successes are shallow and of no real significance. True success involves everyone striving towards a shared goal, making a meaningful and significant contribution, and receiving the recognition that they deserve when they achieve it.
But for this to happen the right environment must exist
My Approach
Has always been to be an enabler rather than a disabler. Effective teams and organisations, if they are to operate at an optimal level, need quality input from everyone involved. Individuals only become engaged, committed and inspired if they feel valued, trusted and empowered. Process, while being vital to any team or organisation, will never do this. However, creating the right culture can.
While the detail of a culture that works obviously differs from organisation to organisation, the core will always be the same.
I believe that a good way of looking at how to do something, is to look at how not to do it, and then do the opposite. To make this point I am going to use as an example a rather large organisation – the former Soviet Bloc. Here the culture was characterised by leaders who did not listen, lies and deceit, distrust, with no value placed upon the individual. The fall of the Soviet system, while being due to more than the prevailing culture, was dramatic and spectacular.
So surely a positive, enabling culture has to begin with leaders who listen, where openness and honesty is demonstrated and encouraged, where trust is given and received, and where everyone has a value.
If this sounds like a recipe to lose control, it is certainly not. Only the committed, or the willing to be committed enjoy working in an environment such as this. There soon becomes no place to hide for the rest, and they will then have the choice of two different paths. Whichever one they choose will be a benefit to the organisation.
I have a track record of leading positive culture change both within my teams, and across larger sections of an organisation. And it really is always a win/win.
If you think that I can help you to achieve a positive change for your team or organisation, call me today for a confidential discussion.
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