Gallup reported, in August, employee engagement at its highest in nearly 20 years: 34% of U.S. workers engaged. That still leaves 66% disengaged. What is your culture like at work? Do the words like: positive, motivating, challenging, exciting, energetic, and rewarding describe your office? Or would you describe it more like: toxic, controlling, complacent, corrupt, backstabbing, and unhealthy?
Where does culture come from? Leader and employee behaviors create cultures over time. Statements like, “That’s the way we do it here,” reflect an accepted culture. Artifacts on the walls often represent a culture at work.
Good cultures are measured and cultivated. They begin with assessment of the values being represented every day in the office. Then the desired culture is codified in values for the organization with a description of the expected behaviors. These behaviors are actively monitored and measured. Leaders hold everyone accountable.
An example is when the US Air Force created their values of integrity, service, and excellence. Then they documented them in their Little Blue Book.
How does your organization define its culture? Have they documented their expectations? Do they live by them?