Can you hear your culture?

Sitting alone in our conference room, without conversations to distract me, I could hear the ticking of the clock on the wall. It was surprisingly loud. Even though I glance at that clock all the time, especially when meetings run long, today was the first time that I noticed it made a sound.  

Culture can be like a clock on the wall. Ticking away, but you can’t hear it over the daily bustle. Ever wonder what you might find if you could take away the distractions?

Look Around

Take a walk. Slow down to notice what's going on around you. You may be surprised by what you see when you aren’t hurrying to your next meeting. Watch employee interactions and ask yourself the following questions:

• Is there a sense of real connection among employees or do interactions seem more transactional?
• Do people notice and engage you when you walk by them?
• Do employees smile or say hi when they pass each other in the hallways?
• Stop by the breakroom. Are people socializing and sharing stories? When you walk in, how do they respond?

Environments that promote genuine personal connections build trust and create a sense of belonging. Employees with positive social relationships at work are more engaged and motivated, while those without connections may feel isolated and less satisfied, leading to increased turnover.  

Next, take a look at your work environment. How does it make you feel? Would you be proud to take a friend or client for a tour? While different types of jobs require different environments, workspaces should support essential functions while still reflecting your desired culture. Well-designed spaces foster productivity and promote collaboration and innovation. According to a 2016 study by Gensler, 67 percent of the workforce feel drained due to their office environment at the end of each working day. Look for elements in your environment such as natural light, plants, and color choices that are proven to create a greater sense of well-being.

Think about your offices or workstations. Do they allow for personal expression? Most workers spend at least 40 hours a week at their desks. Spaces that create a sense of familiarity and comfort can help reduce tension and stress. Personalized spaces also help to build relationships. They highlight shared interests and experiences, and can often serve as an icebreaker. By promoting flexibility in expressing personal style, employees gain a stronger sense of autonomy and control, factors that are essential for employee engagement. Of course, it's still important that your office décor remains appropriate for your business and is safe and welcoming for all. Make sure to provide guidelines in regards to what is suitable for your business to minimize potential concerns.  

Ask Questions

I often joke that when you're the leader, you aren’t invited to the “meeting” after the meeting. Employees don't always tell you what's working and what isn't, making it hard to fix what you don’t know is broken. It’s important to remember that the way you experience your workplace culture may be very different from how others perceive it.

Try having culture chats with employees to gain greater insights. Culture chats are brief, touch point sessions where employees can share their ideas, thoughts and concerns with leaders in a one-on-one, informal setting. You don't have to block off your whole day for the sessions; you can set a goal to have chats with a few employees every week. Just be sure to seek out employees from across your organization for feedback. Based on the nature of your business, you may find that it’s better to schedule your culture chats rather than trying to have impromptu meetings. Ideally, conversations should be in person, but if that is not feasible, even a short call can be beneficial. Any way you accomplish it, one-on-one sessions with employees (not just your direct reports) builds a sense of connection and trust with leadership and demonstrates that you genuinely care.

Allow a little buffer time between your culture chats and your meetings so they don't feel rushed. Be sincere and let the conversation guide your questions. Some questions you may want to ask include:

• What’s going well?
• What’s your favorite part of your job?
• What have been your most significant challenges or frustrations (this week, this month)?
• What resources would make your jobs easier?
• Do you have any questions or are you uncertain about anything going on in the organization that I can answer?

Share the insights you learn with your leadership team to develop action plans that recognize successes and removes barriers. Also, be sure to circle back with your employees to let them know that their feedback matters and how you plan to follow up on their ideas, issues or concerns.  

Your culture is all around you, ticking away like a clock on the wall. It’s created every day, formally and informally, through employee connections, leadership, and your work environment. By taking the time to look and listen in new ways, you may discover insights that you never knew were there.

?Lisa Kogan-Praska is the vice president of client strategy for illumyx; a culture consultancy focused on data-driven diagnostics, people analytics and targeted solutions that drive operational effectiveness and strengthen your employee experience. Looking for resource to help optimize your culture. Contact us for a free consultation.