How to create a culture that inspires commitment.
We know that token-effort box ticking and wellwashing can harm your relationship with your people and the growth of your organisation. It contributes towards burnout, stunts creativity, causes team disharmony and ultimately, your talent may choose to walk away. Without them, you won’t achieve growth or weather any storms coming your way.But what if you’re left feeling that the duty of care is running one way?
Is a lack of enthusiasm and effort once thought normal making it hard for you to run a business in a naturally high-pressure sector? If you’re struggling with productivity issues, team discord and middle-manager exhaustion because of absenteeism or presenteeism, it’s a sign that the balance may need readjustment. Here are our expert tips on how to address this:- Understand stress Stress is good – it causes a cascade of hormones that can switch on creativity, motivation and team reliance. Chronic stress is harmful but short-term, manageable stress gets things done – so although it takes careful handling, it doesn’t need to be avoided.
- Model give and take. When your people have the active listening and speaking skills they need to have realistic, compassionate and sometimes difficult conversations, it’s easier to table and work through issues that arise. Create an atmosphere of psychological safety from the top down.
- Consider where competency and framework design play a part. So that everyone sees the important part they play in the whole picture. Ensure they’re in the right role with the right skills and they’re not butting up against a lack of motivation and frustration.
- Foster a culture of accountability. Some sectors are characterised by high workloads and performance under stress – and they offer salaries to reflect this. People enter into these careers with full knowledge. It doesn’t mean that we’re not sensitive to their needs but the sensitivity should run both ways.
- Remember that senior leaders are human beings too. If everyone else has gone home and they’re left carrying the can, what kind of impact does that have on them, their health and their families? Perks and rewards aren’t enough, they want a quality of life too.
- Build a strong community spirit. When everyone is shouldering the load, it becomes easier for everyone. People want to show up, do their best and go the extra mile because the teamwork feels good. It’s emotionally rewarding, keying into a natural human desire to feel like part of something bigger. This happens when everyone feels respected, valued and heard as together they’re achieving shared, relatable goals.
- Remember you are running a business. Your success is everyone’s success as your actions (no matter where you sit in the organisation) pays for premises, services and salaries. With wider implications for families, the community, investors and your sector, you need to be making the best of your resources so that you can make money and look after everyone. You’re at the centre of a microcosm supporting a wider world.