It was an honor to co-lead the design of yesterday's HRSF event, Making Culture a Strategic Advantage, alongside #lindasolon. I was so inspired by the research, data, and insights our panelists shared. Huge thank you to our panelists: Martin Gonzalez, Lisa Paul, and Karen Jaw-Madson, and moderator Anne Foreman from #AtYourCore. Here are some of my key takeaways:
- Dispelled some myths around culture: a) individuals can in fact affect culture change, b) following best practices is not often be the best way forward and differentiating yourself with what's unique to your organization is a better way to build strategic culture advantage; and c) culture cannot be led by just one person or function and that HR is best serving in the role as educator, facilitator, sponsor, etc., rather than as “owner.”
- "Culture by design vs. culture by default" - Intentionally design with executive leadership team on board, embed culture throughout the employee experience from ensuring a values-fit in hiring (not a culture fit that could lead to bias), and connecting it to employer brand, clearly defining and communicating the desired behaviors, and adding these to on-boarding, goal setting, rewards, rituals, and especially role-modeling which makes it 5x more likely to succeed.
-“Keeping it real.” It’s okay to have values that are somewhat aspirational, but you will lose credibility if they are too far from the employees’ current experience.
- The culture and behaviors you see are a result of all the forces and drivers that are reinforcing those behaviors. Understanding this enables you to see what is in fact in scope to change and where to focus your efforts.
- Scaling up culture requires the weaving together of the purpose, mission, values, behaviors, business strategy and DEIB strategy so they are all inextricably intertwined into a cohesive system.
- Toxic cultures and how to address them: Speak truth to leaders and bring data; be persistent and take an appreciative inquiry mindset, focusing on creating positive culture systems. For example, if there is C-Suite dysfunction, you need to start by working on the team dynamic and improving the root issues (trust, conflict, mishandled agreements, communication, and accountability). #TheBonfireMoment includes a one-day workshop designed to bring out and address the burning issues, and #CultureYourCulture provides an in-depth framework.
- Breakouts touched on many pressing concerns including the impacts on culture of generational differences in the workforce, international complexity, and tops down vs. bottoms up change efforts.
Anything you would add to the list? Please comment below...
#HRStrategyForum has been a thought leader and partner to CHROs and the HR leadership community for the past 30 years. Ask me about joining us at HRSF or serving on a committee as we plan high-value programming for 2025.
https://lnkd.in/gsjNa9RW
#HRStrategyForum #HR #HRStrategy #Culture #Culturedesign
Enjoying a return to work in a Governance role with North Yorkshire Council following a career that encompassed roles in Human Resources , Learning & Ethics & Compliance with a number of ‘blue chip’ organisations.
8moThis is an excellent initiative & is a critical step in ensuring that organisations walk the talk . It’s all very well organisation X posting its values on its corporate website , HQ foyer etc but this is meaningless if the organisation does not live & breathe these values in its d2d actions & behaviours and as evidenced by the organisations employeees & customers. Will be interesting to learn how this initiative progresses but bravo for initiating.