When you think about developing a healthy company culture, what does that mean to you? It involves the shared values, beliefs, goals, and attitudes that influence how people behave in the workplace. How are results achieved, and what methods are utilized to accomplish those results? A company’s environment constantly evolves and changes based on what is happening internally and externally—your leadership matters as an influencer of the corporate culture.
Can your leadership impact company culture?
Teams and employees experience the culture differently, mainly depending on their leadership. Leaders play the most vital role in demonstrating behavioral standards through their actions and giving feedback and assistance to support team members. Structuring the culture is not just the responsibility of frontline leaders but senior leaders who enhance the success and drive results.
Creating a healthy culture involves deciding what environment you want to develop. For example, if you are trying to focus values on innovation, you might want to encourage a culture of exploration, creativity, and curiosity. You want to promote new ideas and experimentation.
I have a motto in my opening Wednesday Morning Memo about the values of virtue. I refer to these values as T.R.I. P. Trust, respect for all, integrity, and Purpose. These values can and do create a healthy culture for any organization.
Here are five ways leaders can build healthy behaviors to create a positive workplace:
1. Provide for the development of all team members
Leaders demonstrate their support by defining the development goals and creating a plan for teams. Programs should develop check-ins, accountability structures, and ways to offer support to members of the group. Teams should have the time to focus on their personal development.
2. Provide the freedom to become visible within the organization
Leaders can offer assignments that stretch teams’ skills so they can interact with other areas of the organization, allowing team members to become more visible.
3. Acknowledge team member’s successes
Team members can feel proud of their work when leaders recognize achievements in front of an entire team. When success is based on the efforts of whole groups, celebrate with lunches and share the success with high-level leaders.
4. Leaders should share their accomplishments with the team
When a leader’s work has been recognized, they should recognize all those who worked on the project.
5, Leaders should be open about their own experiences
Building connections with team members, including sharing your wins and challenges, make a big difference in connecting to others. Leaders can build connections that construct a healthy organizational structure by being vulnerable and having empathy to get to know others.
Want help building a healthy culture? Want to learn more about T.R.I.P.? Consider scheduling a discovery call with me. Check out my Wednesday Morning Memo on Putting Emotional Intelligence to Work. Also, check out my recent article on 13 Tips to Using Situational Leadership Effectively