A companies culture has less to do with words on a page and more to do with actions
Chad Reynolds
SVP - HR Business Partner at Citizens | Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Advocacy
I think we can all agree that 2020 has really put us all to the test. Personally and professionally. As individuals and as companies - large global companies and small businesses. It is like a revolution of sorts. It has us all navigating differently than ever before.
I think this can be a good thing and let me explain.
Anything that makes us vulnerable is a good thing. I have seen so many extraordinary moments of vulnerability. From courageous conversations on racism and inequality, to small business owners closing their doors for good. It is humbling. Even if it's not your experience, it is humbling to witness.
Seeing so many people impacted by job loss, job elimination or reduced hours is humbling. People I know personally - people I know professionally. Contacts, former colleagues. Strangers. I mean, it is 30+ million people just like you and I.
How do companies show up for that? How do they treat their employees? What actions do they take to support them? How do we show up to support people that need help, those that are struggling to explain and understand how job loss happened to them? Some companies cannot help but impact employees. They have no customers and no income to sustain a business and a payroll. Other companies have the means and the support & tools to not impact employees, yet they decide to do so anyway. Through it all, employees will remember how they were treated and who reached out to lend a helping hand or a compassionate ear to listen and offer support. Who helped them see the positive - that is what they will remember.
When I see companies making bold statements and commitments around diversity & inclusion and a renewed focus on culture and belonging, it is really inspiring. However, the proof is in how a company acts and how leaders and employees show up every day to execute on that commitment. It is not a press release. It is not a D&I statement on a website. It is really more about the day to day conversations that leaders have and how they act and deliver on that vision. When that breaks down, it all breaks down. Nobody is perfect, no company is perfect and we all have to work at being better every day.
It has to be more than words. It has to be action.
A few weeks ago, I posted a note on Linked In offering to help those impacted by job elimination. It has been really inspiring to see the notes I received from so many people. Many of them didn't need the help, but said how much it meant to see the offer to help be out there. Others did need help. I appreciated being able to connect with so many folks and understand their journey. Other recruiters have offered to help as well, so I will do a future post and celebrate those recruiters that are interested in stepping up to help someone in need. Feel free to comment or send me a direct message if you want to be highlighted on that post.
What people need is action, a helping hand. As so many people work to find their next role, I am pretty sure they will be focused a little more on company culture and inclusion. For those that are fortunate enough to not have been impacted by job loss, I am pretty sure they are more focused now on what actions their company is taking to create a culture of inclusion and equality. This is a good thing.
Knowing more about what is important to you in your next role will make all the difference in your ability to get acclimated quickly and to thrive. If you are watching how your company is navigating these unprecedented times, stay focused on actions - not words. Set high expectations for a strong culture. Expect more from a company and from the culture. It will make us all better.
I am here to help - if you have a question you can direct message me or if you have a comment to add, please feel free to comment or share with anyone you think could benefit from this quick read.
#culture #inclusion #jobloss #leadership #diversity #networking
CEO, People Leader, Professional Speaker & Board Member (service)
4 年Totally agree
Executive Director at Chase
4 年Chad, a really great piece. Thank you. All of us have had to reflect, and even as someone diverse, i learned that I had a lot to learn and do to be a better ally, a better peer, and friend. Education ourselves on what inclusion really means is important. Talking to people that you haven’t spoken to before, admitting when you don’t understand something, and being willing to be vulnerable. Since I exercised a bit more courage, it opened even more doors that led to understanding and being stronger together.
VP Finance and Operations
4 年Too many corporate cultures stifle diversity of thought (especially banks). This in turn leads to less meaningful action, silenced and disenfranchised voices. Do better
HR Business Partner| Change Management | Talent Strategist | Organizational Development | HR Operations
4 年Organizational culture is often referred to as, "How we do things around here", so it truly is about taking action. If you notice, some cultures will have employees who say, "This is how it's always been," or "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". Some cultures are very strong, but sometimes we need to ask ourselves, "Are we doing things that make us an attractive company to the right customers, employees, investors, and future talent?" You could have a culture that is SO strong that it does not like hiring people who don't seem to "fit" in the "culture". This is where it is so important to understand our unconscious biases, gain insight and introspect on ourselves, and start creating a better economy with more opportunities for everyone. If company strategy and culture are not aligned, "culture will eat your strategy for breakfast".
Chief Retail Officer / SVP at Unity Bank
4 年Chad I absolutely loved this! Your perspective on everything going on is really enlightening! It’s all about being a culture carrier everywhere you go wether it’s at work or at home or in public. It’s not something you take off and put on when you feel like it. It’s to be worn at all times!