workplace culture
HOW IS AN ORGANIZATION’S
CULTURE CREATED?
There is a common misconception that
an organization’s culture is defined by its
policies. While it is true that a workplace
policy can guide behaviour and impact
organizational culture, the much more
important impact is made by the orga-nization’s
leadership team. An effective
leader will engender employee trust and
engagement, whereas an ineffective lead-er
will almost always provoke the opposite
response.
WHAT MAKES A GREAT
LEADER?
The following is an interactive exercise
(originally created by Kenneth Blanchard)
we have conducted with clients seeking
to effect a change in their organization-al
culture. It illustrates the magnitude of
a leadership’s influence on organization-al
culture and highlights the qualities that
make a leader great.
Begin by writing down the name of the
best boss you have ever had. This is the per-son
for whom you most enjoyed working.
Now think about why you chose this
person. What makes this person the best
boss you ever had? Was she a good listener?
Did she care? Was she compassionate? Did
your best boss motivate and stand up for
you? Did she have a great sense of humour?
Next, think about how you felt about
your job when you were working for this
person. What impact did those feelings
have on your work performance and over-all
experience in the workplace?
ORGANIZATIONAL
CULTURE IS MADE UP OF
ITS MEMBERS’ SHARED
VALUES, BELIEFS AND
BEHAVIOURS; IT ALSO
GUIDES INDIVIDUAL
DECISIONS AND
ACTIONS AT THE
UNCONSCIOUS LEVEL.
Our guess is that you felt inspired, moti-vated,
excited, happy, challenged, engaged
or all of the above. You may have even en-joyed
going to work or felt like you were a
part of something special.
Now consider how each employee in
your current workplace would respond if
asked to participate in this exercise. How
many of them would write down the name
of a “boss” in your workplace? How many
would name you?
BEING THE BEST BOSS
The “best boss” exercise is powerful be-cause
it illustrates the impact of leadership
on workplace morale, but also the piv-otal
role leadership plays in creating an
organization’s culture. Your best boss
didn’t achieve this honour because of the
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60 ❚ MAY/JUNE 2014 ❚ HR PROFESSIONAL