Work culture is defined as the sum of what people think, say and do in your organization and on your team. Having a good work culture where employees will stay and thrive is critical to the success of your business. Below is our 3 Step Culture Catalyst Framework that can be used to elevate your culture.
STEP 1 - Assess
Your culture is what is REALLY happening in your organization where the rubber meets the road. There is often a gap. Here are some ways to assess your work culture.
Observe - Spend some time observing how people interact and treat each other. You may have articulated organizational values but if people aren’t using them in how they relate to one another then they aren’t hardwired into your culture. Ask yourself, "Is what's posted on the wall (your values), happening in the hall?"
Do a formal culture assessment - You can do this assessment yourself but sometimes it’s better to have a neutral third party conduct it as they will be more objective. Gallup suggests auditing all people-related programs and communication including performance management, recognition, compensation, recruiting, onboarding, values, rituals, and team structures for alignment and consistency with your purpose and brand.
Gather Employee Feedback - Gather employee feedback on how they view the culture, their pain points, and what they feel is going well. This can be done through focus groups, stay interviews or employee surveys. I am doing this with a current client through employee interviews and feel that this is probably most effective as you can gather more specific information and ask follow-up questions.
STEP 2 - Analyze
Review and analyze the data gathered through the assessment.
Based on your data, what is your culture currently?
What are the gaps from what you want it to be?
What do employees feel are the strengths of your culture?
What are their pain points?
Is there a lack of accountability? If so, where?
Gather best practices regarding your desired culture that you might consider incorporating into your organization or team.
STEP 3 - Action Plan
Now that you know where your culture stands vs. where you want it to be, you can take steps to move toward your desired culture. Do the following to establish your action plan.
Set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bound) goals to elevate your culture.
Get buy-in from all stakeholders including senior leaders, managers, and employees.
Once you have finalized your goals, work toward achieving them.
As you make changes in the culture, make sure that you promote your improvements by reminding everyone what you have done and why.
If you would like some assistance or additional information to help in elevating your culture, feel free to reach out.
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