by Linda B. Haley, CEO, CFRE
The Power of Workplace Culture
Culture has such a powerful impact on employees AND on those we serve in the nonprofit field. Providing an uplifting work environment increases retention of great employees and draws terrific new ones. It enhances the support of those you serve. It draws board members and donors who are hungry for a powerful, positive nonprofit experience. But culture is not always so easy to change, is it?
What Kind Of Culture Do YOU Have?
We at Let’s Build Hope interact with workplace cultures that have a negative impact on all involved—including us! Challenging cultures might look like one of these:
- Perfectionistic – everybody has to get everything right all of the time…and LOOK perfect on the outside, too!
- Critical – feedback is our byword. Everybody needs lots of aggressive feedback, especially when mistakes are made. Brutal honesty rules!
- Polite – goodness knows, we don’t ever want anyone to be unhappy for any reason at any time. If even one person is upset by something, new policies and procedures are in order. Feeling good ALL of the time is a must!
- Passive Aggressive – there’s not nearly enough safety here to share how we feel in respectful and appropriate ways. So we’ll all talk ABOUT each other, instead of WITH each other. Underlying discomfort is the status quo!
Cleaning Your Slate
We’ve worked hard at Let’s Build Hope to create a high-EQ (emotional quotient) culture. We carefully screen all potential new employees with the Hogan Assessment, a data-driven personality inventory specifically designed for the workplace. We train our consultants in conflict resolution, anti-bias/anti-racism, avoidance of the drama triangle, and a host of other high EQ methodologies (think Brene Brown!).
One of the key strategies we use is a personal “cleaning of the slate” when we’ve gotten sideways with someone. We work individually to make sure we stay self-aware, especially when someone has stepped on our toes.
We each know we are the only ones responsible for our feelings – no one else can help with that. But we also try to share with one another or with clients when they’ve felt hurt, angry, disappointed, or confused. It’s amazing what some simple self-reflection, open conversation, and gentle honesty can do.
Improving Your Workplace Culture
You can’t solve problems unless you admit you have them, so admitting you are having culture problems – really owning it – is the first step. Once you as a leader have come to terms with the existence of this challenge, here are a few steps for beginning to refine your culture:
- Ask others what THEY think of your culture. Query senior staff, board members, general staff, and even those served to find out the level of comfort, peace, even joy they have when interacting with your nonprofit.
- Use the information you gather to own the problem. Own it not in a disapproving way,but in a way that invites solutions that will lead to growth.
- Create opportunities for people to “clean their slates.” Make it clear that your nonprofit culture is a “safe space” and that brutal honesty, aggressive criticism, perfectionism, and passive-aggressive behavior are not ok.
- Encourage staff members to self-reflect. Invite them to 1) take a look at the way they show up individually, and 2) do a little self-inventory to see if there are any places they need to clean their slates. Letting go of resentment and bitterness, working through conflicts, providing gentle honesty, and then plain ol’ forgiveness will do wonders for your environment.
The Corner of Hope
If you’re having a moment right now and thinking, “Ugh. This is so hard,” we feel you. Admitting a culture has gone awry and beginning to fix it are not easy things. But there is hope. Culture will not be fixed overnight, but if you admit the problem, use the steps we’ve provided, and keep your own fire of hope lit, you’ll get there.
And if you need help reigniting hope in your own heart, we’re here for it…and for you. The “Corner of Hope” section on our website has and will continue to have both personal and technical resources to help you take some of the culture lessons we’ve learned – both here and with our clients – and use them to propel your own heart and mind AND your culture to a new plane.
Take a moment to clean your slate, encourage your team to do the same, and get started building a culture together that will bring peace and joy to your workplace and your life.
#LBH #Blog #GlimmersofHope #CleanYourSlate #WorkplaceCulture