CultureLab with Aga Bajer

We have created the Audio Postcards series to help us tackle the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic in a calmer and wiser way. The tricky thing with being a leader or an entrepreneur in times like these is that while we have no clear answers, our team, our family, and our friends are looking to us for guidance. And so it's important that we learn how to walk the line between the light and the dark. Here's a message on this topic from Michael Bungay Stanier. 

We have created the Audio Postcards series to help us tackle the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic in a calmer and wiser way. This postcard is second in the series and comes from Cy Wakeman. Cy challenges us to let ourselves and our teams be impacted by the current crisis and approach it with curiosity, using this "time-out" to grow, develop and perhaps even transform the way we think, feel and act.

In difficult times, we all need some guidance, some inspiration and... an occasional kick in the butt. To help leaders, entrepreneurs and soloists navigate the unchartered waters of the Coronavirus pandemic and its impact on our lives, our team started producing audio postcards. They contain powerful messages from the world's leading thinkers, leaders, movers, and shakers.  This message comes from Seth Godin.   

Our guest today is Nikki Gatenby. Nikki is a business consultant and best selling author, specializing in the field of culture and engagement at work, having been featured in The Guardian, The Times, Management Today, Chamber of Commerce and Corporate Rebels. Over the last 10 years as MD and co-owner of Propellernet, Nikki transformed the Brighton based SEO agency into a global marketing organization and SAAS technology provider, serving the PR, content and search world with coveragebook.com and answerthepublic.com. This, hand in hand with Propellernet, being one of the top 15 Best Places to work in the UK, for 8 years running. Episode Highlights In this episode, Nikki and I talk about how to create and maintain a company culture that drives performance, boosts enthusiasm, increases engagement levels, and…makes life better at the same time. Here are some of the themes that we explore in this conversation: How a mix of curiosity, frustration and a belief that there’s a better way can lead you to an idea for a successful business Why putting wellbeing at the heart of your business boosts creativity and innovation Ways of bringing your company’s purpose to life, with concrete examples from Propellernet, including one simple question that you can use when making decisions What it means to have a people-first culture How Propellernet achieved 90% engagement rate The role that self-induced constraints can play in stimulating innovation and growth in your company Why you should rip up job descriptions and hire for the real (current and future) needs of your organization instead The pitfalls to be mindful of when building a people-first culture Reaching a perfect balance between profitability and people-focus The importance of language in cultivating a culture How your employees’ dreams and side-hustles might become a part of your company’s business plan The difference between being engaged and… superengaged The power of questions and helping employees become more curious and more inquisitive

Our guest today is Siobhan McHale, a culture change specialist, EGM People, Culture & Change at DuluxGroup and the author of The Insider’s Guide to Culture Change. Siobhan has worked across four continents, helping thousands of leaders to create more agile and productive workplaces. She has been on the “inside”, as the executive in charge of change in a series of large, multinational organizations. One of these inside jobs was a radical seven-year change initiative at Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) that transformed it from the lowest-performing bank in the country into one of the highest-performing and most admired banks in the world. Professor John Kotter used her work with ANZ as a Harvard Business School case study designed to teach MBA students about managing change.   Episode Highlights In this episode, Siobhan and I talk about how to disrupt dysfunctional patterns of behavior in a company. Here are some of the topics we cover: Culture as patterns of relatedness and behavior between the parts of the wider organizational system The challenges of seeing patterns clearly in our own environment Why focusing on behavior change is not enough  The power of reframing roles  How our mental maps drive our behaviors Supporting people in stepping into a reframed role to drive culture change What can lead to a tipping point when it comes to culture change How to track culture change progress The dangers of linear thinking  

Our guest today is Kirsty Bashforth,  the founder and CEO of QuayFive Ltd. Her new book on managing organizational culture (Culture Shift) was published by Bloomsbury in July 2019. In this episode, Kirsty and I talk about shifting culture so that it serves the business, its employees and the wider ecosystem.

Jitske Kramer is a Dutch anthropologist. She travels the world to learn from traditional healers, leaders, surprising innovators, and random passersby. She looks at the world and at organizations through the eyes of an anthropologist, and what she sees is fascinating. In this interview, we talk about what's involved in the making of a corporate tribe.  Episode Highlights Here are some of the things that we discussed: The lessons Jitske learned when doing research in Uganda The two opposites that attract us: harmony and disruption What is anthropology and how it’s relevant to organizational life Nature and nurture debate in the context of culture The elements that shape culture: purpose, definition power, and the cultural narrative One of the biggest misunderstandings about self-organized teams The importance of reflecting on what leadership means in your organization Why boundaries are important and how to set them in a way that supports rather than constrains Two forces present in every tribe: power and love and how they play out in modern organizations What to do to set foundations for a healthy culture in a start-up or a new team How to effectively deal with diversity in a team and create true inclusivity The three stages of change and the different types of leadership required for each of the stages The nature and importance of rituals The three questions you need to ask every day to cultivate an inclusive and healthy culture

Our guest today is Mike Ganino. He is a storytelling and communication expert who helps executives, teams, and thought leaders communicate, connect, and engage. Mike is also the author of Company Culture for Dummies and has been named a Top 30 Culture Speaker by Global Guru. Mike is also the executive producer of TEDx Cambridge and the head performance coach at Heroic Public Speaking, where he helps people connect in authentic and engaging ways with audiences. I first met Mike when he was facilitating a workshop in HPS, and I was blown away by his ability to craft a compelling story. Why is storytelling important when it comes to cultivating a healthy culture? Because a great story engages and moves people. It makes them feel invested in the outcome; it helps them make meaning out of what surrounds them and it changes the way they think, feel, and act. We humans have been using the power of story for millennia to pass on knowledge, instill common values, and influence each other. The success or failure of our ideas often hinges on our ability to tell the right story.   Episode Highlights In this episode, Mike and I talk about the stories that shape culture. Here are some of the things that we discussed: Mike’s early cultural influences and how they shaped him as a person Mike’s book, Company Culture for Dummies, and which parts are most relevant to founders and leaders who want to change their culture but only have one hour to read Global and local culture and what the value of local rockets of culture can be How to craft a compelling story that can change the way people feel, think, and act What are “anti-value” stories and why they can be a powerful tool in embedding cultural values How to engage people in bringing a vision to life Sourcing stories that support your cultural messages A mindset shift that can help anyone focus more on culture and less on blaming others or circumstances

Our guest today is Melissa Agnes. Author of Crisis Ready: Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World, Melissa is a leading authority on crisis preparedness, reputation management, and brand protection.  Melissa’s area of expertise is something that most of us don’t enjoy thinking about. She works with organizations to explore questions such as: What will happen if things go off the rails and we find our business in a major crisis situation? Are we ready for the worst? Do we have what it takes to handle a crisis in an effective manner? Can our brand and our reputation survive a major crisis? And most importantly: Is there a way to prevent what’s preventable? After a recent crop of scandals—including Uber, Volkswagen, Wells Fargo, and Boeing, just to name a few—companies and boards have started to emphasize shaping a healthy culture as a way to reduce risk. If you and your company want to create an invincible brand, make sure you don’t miss this conversation. Episode Highlights In this interview, Melissa and I discuss: Melissa’s early cultural influences How she found her calling and where she found the strength to pursue it What helped Melissa persists through the most challenging stages of building her business How she defines crisis and the key differences between an issue and a crisis What is crisis readiness and why you can throw your crisis management plan away How to identify your high-risk scenarios What were the first telltale signs of Uber’s culture crisis Examples of a crisis well managed and how to emerge from a crisis stronger than before