Are you cultivating a climate for human growth?

I worked with a client recently who genuinely has human growth front and centre of everything. They’re a small company, growing quickly. Founder-led, they’ve reached a transition-point where they know new models and ways of working will need to be introduced to enable a successful next phase. However, the leaders are open and transparent about this need and are laser-focused on building a culture where people can thrive, as the primary objective.

This really stood out to me, and it’s refreshing to hear. Acknowledging openly that what got us here, won’t necessarily get us there is a brave thing to do. In sharing this, they’re recognising that there could be a need for different leadership – demonstrating both vulnerability and humility. I think what enables this perspective is the starting point - happy, engaged, supported people are the fuel in high performing, durable businesses. Through this lens, it is easier to more objectively discuss and mobilise what’s needed to deliver long-term success.

This, however, isn’t often where we start.

You don’t have to look too hard to find signs across a wide range of organisations that human growth is an after-thought (if a thought at all). As we face continuing turbulence and exceptionally high levels of uncertainty, there are many leaders and organisations lurching about, desperately trying to find the path to results, and in doing so, pushing people to breaking point.

Who delivers their best work, collaborates more effectively, comes up with new ideas and innovations against a backdrop of pressure, anxiety and control? Not many, that’s for sure.

We urgently need to reverse the equation and start with purposefully cultivating climates for human growth.

Organisations with a Climate for Human Growth have 4 Characteristics:

ONE: Intentional focus on 5 elements for thriving organisations

Through examining some of the best organisational cultures in the world, I have identified the 5 things they have in common. The image below shares some examples of companies working hard to strengthen these elements:

1. Workplace – creating the conditions for people to thrive. In terms of space, equipment, but also balance and flexibility, fairness, integrity, and showing this is a workplace people can get along in and sustain life and work.
2. Accountability – shared expectations and clarity on how to contribute. This relates to both ensuring an aligned and energising sense of purpose and impact and clarity on what is and isn’t acceptable (as well as ensuring people feel able to flag any concerns they have).
3. Community – we’re in this together and equally valued. Working hard to nurture and strengthen a sense of community is critical as this helps fuel collaboration, diversity, belonging, ideas, engagement and performance.
4. Empowerment – feeling trusted to do the right thing. Achieving just the right amount of empowerment can literally charge up the levels of trust and energy across an organisation.
5. Growth – people feel supported and inspired to develop and grow. Ensuring you cultivate a culture where people are able to develop and grow on a daily basis is essential.

TWO: They continuously work to improve Body, Mind, Heart & Soul

BODY – They understand why they exist, who they are, and how they work. This helps define purpose, mission and ways of working, underpinned by fairness, integrity and a constant focus on creating psychological safety. Together, these create the foundations for growth, but they require constant review and strengthening to ensure they remain effective.

MIND – Human organisations recognise that to remain relevant through ongoing transformation, to find moments of alignment between people & business to fuel growth, and to build environments where humans can flourish, they need to work hard to ensure the systems, tools and skills within organisations enable objective understanding of potential.

HEART & SOUL – They also understand the criticality of having strong human managers in role who are equipped and able to have impact where it matters most – spending time understanding, supporting and developing their teams.

THREE and FOUR: They're nurturing a new era in human management & leadership

Finally, human organisations recognise leaders and managers play a huge role in creating culture in teams and workplaces, every day. They are working hard to identify, place, develop and empower a new era in HUMAN management and leadership.  These are individuals who focus on we, not me. They are motivated by creating conditions to enable others to flourish. They spend time connecting, understanding and personalising to create experiences of autonomy, meaning and growth. And they lead by example – sharing mistakes, learnings and seeking to continuously develop and grow. Their habits shape a human culture.

Read more on building a climate for human growth in my book – Make It Human – available now!

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