Corporate Culture: Who Sets the Tone in your Workplace?

I have been taking spin cycle classes for a number of years. Working out for 45 minutes on those stationary bicycles can be murder. What's even worse is some of the bad 90's hair band music that is played loud to keep us motivated, but at least, I never heard Nickelback played!

The Instructors: Lara and Amy

What I find really interesting is that the instructor can make or break the session for attendees. Let’s talk about Lara and Amy.?

When I first took the classes pre-covid, we had two different instructors.?

Amy would start with a cheery ‘Good Morning’ and ask ‘Do we have any newcomers today?’ and “Does anyone need help setting up their bicycle?”? To the uninitiated, proper bike set up (especially saddle height) is critical to avoid injury and muscle strain.?

Amy would push us hard, regularly asking “Everyone doing OK” or shouting “C’mon Conor, you can do it,” (to which I utter a profanity under my breath) or “That’s it Julie, keep it going” etc. When we were taking things easy, Amy might tell a short anecdote about her kid, the neighbor’s kid or ask about last night’s episode of Breaking Bad.?

Lara would also would start with a cheery ‘Good Morning’ and then push us like crazy for 45 minutes telling us what speed / gear we should be at, based it seemed, on her superb level of fitness and her perception that we really were capable of riding La Tour. ?No question as to new riders, bike set up or attention to individual class members.

At times during these workouts, you just pray for a puncture or when you put your Tour de France vibe on, pushing through those ‘mountains’, you just hope that some French animal rights activist will lay down in front of you protesting about the destruction of a rat habitat in southern Kazakhstan, but one instructor made it more bearable and had far less membership churn.

Where Did James Go?

James (not real name) joined us one morning as the class was about to begin. James was obese and I guess trying spin class for the first time. Lara started her routine – without any recognition of James. It was obvious after about ten minutes that James - on the other side of the room from me – was struggling. Twenty minutes into the class, James got down off his bike, left the room and has never been seen at a spin class since. (To be fair, I do work out in a different place now.) I bet had his first instructor been Amy, he would not have given up so easily and likely would have returned.?

YOU Create the Culture Around You

It doesn’t matter how many people you work with / manage / lead or instruct. You can create a culture that either encourages or discourages those around you

Think about the spin classes.?

Both of them early morning classes.

Both in same location

Both with the same equipment?

Both with that same pump up the volume, high energy, over the top, bad hair style 80s/90s rock music played at room shaking intensity designed to push us through the pain barrier ?

Both with same mission – to improve fitness?

Both with generally the same people.?

Yet the vibe in the classes was like night and day.?

The only significant difference was the instructor. I see this quite regularly with organizations I deal with and it makes me wonder whether “Corporate Culture” can ever really be “Corporate!” Huh! Individual managers and leaders - like you - determine the culture for their department, region, function.

Sure, some of the broad parameters like vision, mission, communication, transparency can be set in guidelines, but the actual functioning and productivity of any group of people is very much in the hands of the individual leader of that specific group.

What Can We Learn from Amy?

Let’s have a look at what we might learn from Amy and how you can utilize it in your workplace, be it as a leader or a co-worker.

How do you treat newcomers?

Do you make them feel welcome, provide advice and help them negotiate the “bike setup” in your organization?

Who did you encourage or appreciate today at your workplace?

Do you know the names of your employee / co-workers kids? Do you know if they have kids??

Do they know the names of your kids?

What Can We Learn from Lara?

Not a lot, I might say, but you may have different view. I do remember a boss of mine saying that no one is ever a total lost cause. They can always be a good example of a bad example!!?

One major lesson we can take from Lara’s style. If you don’t at the very least make an effort to connect with your employees, you will not retain them. At a time when employee retention is a major challenge, you cannot afford to ignore staff, be they newcomers or experienced personnel.

What are you doing each day - indeed today - to engage and motivate your team members?