Have you ever seen Undercover Boss? It’s a riveting television show that spotlights executives as they act like employees in their organizations in order to discover how they might be able to improve the culture of the workplace. While Undercover Boss is fun to watch, it’s not an ideal tactic for every executive, and it’s certainly not the only way to ensure that your team is happy and working efficiently. Here are some things to keep in mind as you evaluate the culture of your organization.
Intentional Actions
This year, we shared a blog entitled “How are you contributing to your employer’s company culture?” It challenged employees to be intentional about contributing to a healthy work culture. Here, we want to do the same for those of you who are in leadership. The following are some ways that you can intentionally influence the culture of your organization:
- Regularly remind your team of your organizational core values and mission statements
- Implement employee recognition programs
- Foster open communication and transparency with leadership
Unintentional Actions
Executives can be very intentional and organized people, but it’s still possible to inadvertently shape the culture of your organization. Unintentional actions in the workplace also have consequences; whether those consequences are positive or negative. Here are some ways that you may be unintentionally influencing the culture of your company.
- Communication style
- Decision-making processes
- Amount of transparency
- Responses to challenges and crises
Modeling Behavior
Executives are cultural role models. They set the tone for how others in the organization act. Decide how you’d like to see your team approach the work they do, and show them that mindset. If you’d like your employees to be enthusiastic about the work they do, model enthusiasm. If you’d like them to feel a deep sense of purpose that what they do makes a difference, carry integrity with you like a pen in your pocket.
Communicating and Encouraging Feedback
Humility with your team can go a long way. Being open to communication and feedback can be a crucial step in establishing trust and honor among you and your team. This concept goes back to fostering transparency. For example, the owner of the company, Duolingo, hosts weekly sessions where all employees can ask any questions they have about the organization. This transparency and accountability has improved employee morale at Duolingo and established a culture of communicative collaboration.
Our hope is that you are reminded of the influence that you bring to your organization’s culture. Leadership is a difficult road to walk, full of complexities and challenges, but it’s a rewarding one when done well.
Need some support in your leadership role and related initiatives? Crosworks can help. Our services for leaders and organizations are accessible and can be completely customized to your situation. Reach out to CEO and Leadership Coach Shelly Stotzer or schedule a non-binding introductory call to discover the possibilities.