Creating Culture Change In An Organization

Summary

This video explores the essential elements of building and maintaining a positive organizational culture. It emphasizes the importance of providing feedback with care and authenticity, ensuring that it’s received as a means of growth rather than criticism. The conversation encourages learning from top organizations and experimenting with different cultural frameworks to find what works best. A key takeaway is the need to embrace the messiness of change, acknowledging that creating a great culture is a continuous, evolving process. The speaker provides practical insights and advice for leaders looking to guide their organizations toward success.

Takeaways

• 😀 Authenticity in leadership means allowing people to be their true selves while also providing thoughtful feedback.
• 😀 Effective feedback should come from a place of care and concern, not with an ulterior motive, to be well-received.
• 😀 The emotional impact of feedback is shaped by the belief that the person delivering it cares about your growth.
• 😀 When receiving feedback, it's important to first consider the intention behind it—whether it is genuinely meant to help you improve.
• 😀 Building and managing a healthy organizational culture requires a commitment to learning and experimenting with what works best.
• 😀 Explore and learn from high-performing organizations that score well in employee satisfaction to understand what makes them successful.
• 😀 Reading books and engaging with resources such as corporate culture-focused materials can provide valuable insights for shaping your organization's culture.
• 😀 Don’t be afraid of messiness or imperfection in the process of creating organizational culture—embrace the challenges and learn from them.
• 😀 No single framework or model is perfect, so use available resources as a starting point, and adapt them to your organization's unique needs.
• 😀 In the process of building culture, it's essential to involve and bring others along, making it a collective journey of growth.
• 😀 Understand that culture-building is a dynamic and evolving process that requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to adjust strategies as you go.

Q & A

What is the key to effective feedback in a workplace culture?

The key to effective feedback is to give it thoughtfully and with care. Feedback should be rooted in a genuine desire to help someone grow, rather than having an ulterior motive. This approach makes it more likely that the recipient will accept the feedback, even if it's uncomfortable.

How can someone tell if feedback is being given with genuine care?

Feedback is perceived as being given with genuine care when the recipient feels that the giver's intention is focused on their personal growth and development. Trust plays a significant role, as employees are more likely to accept feedback from those they believe genuinely care about them.

Why does feedback sometimes cause discomfort?

Feedback can cause discomfort when it feels like it's being given for reasons other than genuine care or when it’s perceived as coming from someone with ulterior motives. This triggers a defensive response from the brain, often causing the amygdala to activate, which leads to feelings of discomfort and resistance.

What is the importance of managing organizational culture?

Managing organizational culture is crucial because it influences the work environment, employee satisfaction, and overall company performance. A positive culture fosters collaboration, innovation, and growth, while a toxic culture can lead to disengagement and high turnover.

What resources can help someone learn about successful organizational cultures?

To learn about successful organizational cultures, one can explore resources like Comparably, Glassdoor, and Great Place to Work rankings. Reading books such as 'Corporate Rebels' and 'The Culture Code' can also provide valuable insights into best practices and strategies for cultivating a positive organizational culture.

How can someone start the journey of improving their organization's culture?

Start by researching successful organizations and analyzing their culture. Look for common practices that contribute to their success, read relevant books, and learn from case studies. Then, adapt and apply those learnings to your own organization, making sure to bring others along on the journey.

What role does experimentation play in building organizational culture?

Experimentation plays a vital role in building organizational culture because it allows for continuous learning and adaptation. It's important to try different approaches, assess their effectiveness, and adjust as needed. This process helps uncover what works best for the specific needs of your organization.

Why is it important to embrace messiness when improving organizational culture?

Embracing messiness is important because the process of building a culture is rarely straightforward. There will be challenges, setbacks, and imperfections along the way. Celebrating the messiness helps foster a mindset of resilience and encourages innovation as the organization adapts to its unique needs.

What is the significance of trust in accepting feedback?

Trust is crucial in accepting feedback because when individuals trust that the feedback is coming from a place of care, they are more likely to be open to it. Trust helps mitigate the emotional response to feedback, making it easier for the recipient to consider the feedback and use it for personal or professional growth.

How does the feedback process relate to personal development in the workplace?

The feedback process is integral to personal development in the workplace because it provides individuals with insights into their strengths and areas for improvement. Constructive feedback helps employees grow, build skills, and become more effective in their roles. It fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement.