The single thing that every organisation should do to fix culture
Nov 7, 2023
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Expert in workplace culture, Professor Frances Frei, discusses the importance of training managers to fix organizational cultures. She emphasizes the significance of inclusion over diversity and shares tips on building a welcoming workplace. The podcast also explores topics like building trust, optimizing operations, empowering employees, and fostering a culture of inclusion.
Inclusion should be prioritized over diversity in order to create a culture where everyone's unique ideas and perspectives are valued and celebrated, leading to better outcomes.
Empowering employees by providing them with autonomy and resources leads to a more engaged and motivated workforce, fostering a culture of ownership, innovation, and exceptional customer service.
Deep dives
Inclusion First: The Key to Diversity and Equity
Inclusion should come first in discussions of diversity and equity. By creating a culture of inclusion, organizations will naturally attract diversity and get the most out of it. Many organizations focus on diversity without ensuring inclusion, leading to a treadmill of diversity efforts without substantial progress. Inclusion means valuing and championing the unique ideas and perspectives of every individual, and creating an environment where everyone's voice is heard and celebrated. Inclusive organizations empower their employees by giving them the autonomy to solve problems and make decisions. By prioritizing inclusion, organizations can foster a sense of belonging, attract diverse talent, and achieve better outcomes.
The Power of Empowering Employees
Empowering employees is crucial for building a positive workplace culture. Organizations that empower their employees to make decisions and take action can create a more engaged and motivated workforce. Empowerment means providing employees with the necessary training and resources, but also giving them the autonomy to solve problems and serve customers effectively. One example is the Ritz-Carlton, where employees are empowered to spend up to $2,000 to exceed guest expectations and solve problems. Empowered employees feel valued and motivated, leading to higher satisfaction and retention rates. By investing in employee empowerment, organizations can create a culture of ownership, innovation, and exceptional customer service.
Optimizing Meeting Culture for Greater Productivity
Many organizations waste significant time and resources on inefficient meetings. By optimizing meeting culture, organizations can improve productivity and save valuable time for employees. This includes being deliberate about the purpose of each meeting, having a clear agenda, and only inviting necessary participants. Too often, meetings lack direction and involve unnecessary attendees, leading to wasted time and decreased productivity. Organizations should focus on creating a culture that values efficient and purposeful meetings, where decisions are made, problems are solved, and information is effectively shared. By optimizing meeting practices, organizations can free up time for employees to focus on meaningful work and experience better work-life balance.
The Importance of Manager Training
Proper training for managers is essential for building a strong workplace culture and ensuring employee engagement and satisfaction. Many managers are promoted without receiving adequate training on how to effectively manage and lead their teams. This lack of training results in poor feedback, ineffective communication, and limited development opportunities for employees. Manager training should cover essential skills such as giving feedback, coaching, and addressing performance issues. When managers are trained to be effective leaders, they can empower their teams, foster growth and development, and create a positive work environment. Investing in manager training is crucial for building strong teams and driving organizational success.
Professor Frances Frei is the biggest brain in the field of workplace culture and I was delighted to get another opportunity to talk to her.
She explains the one thing that firms should do to fix their cultures (spoiler: train their managers), why she thinks inclusion is a more important element of culture than just diversity.
“One way to build cynicism quickly in an organisation, something we see all the time, by the way - is to ask people for their input and then do very little with the information they give you (and take a long time to even do that)’
Robert McDonald, former CEO of P&G “Organisations are perfectly designed to get the results they get… if you don’t like the results you need to change the design”.
We're often asked for a summary of how to build a workplace where everyone feels welcome. Our short answer is to recruit great people you don't already know, give them interesting work to do, and invest in them as if your company's future depends on it. If they deserve a promotion, give it to them in a timely man-ner. Don't make them wait. Don't make them go to a competitor to get the role, title, and decision rights they already earned on your watch. And in the name of all that is right and just in the world, pay them fairly and equitably for the work they do.”