In the latest HCI Webinar, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Chad Miller about practical ways leaders can shape their company culture. Below is a summary of the main points from their conversation! Check out the full episode and let us know what you think!
Watch the episode here:
Quick Recap
Jonathan and Chad discussed the importance of company culture in shaping organizational productivity and employee satisfaction, emphasizing its significant financial and human benefits. They highlighted the need for intentional efforts to shape and maintain a positive culture, including systematizing values, living up to them, and creating rituals and behaviors that support them. The conversation concluded with the importance of intentionality in leadership and its impact on workplace culture and employee performance.
Company Culture's Impact on Productivity
Jonathan and Chad discussed the importance of company culture in shaping organizational productivity and employee satisfaction. Chad shared his background in corporate leadership, theology, and ministry, and his passion for helping others thrive. They agreed that company culture is a crucial aspect of leadership, often overlooked in the daily grind of managing emergencies and fires. Chad highlighted the significant financial impact of poor workplace culture, citing research from the Society for Human Resource Management and Gallup. Jonathan and Chad agreed to delve deeper into the topic, emphasizing the need for strategic thinking and proactive development of company culture.
Culture's Impact on Business Dynamics
Chad and Jonathan discussed the importance of culture in shaping business dynamics, particularly in relation to attracting and retaining talent. They emphasized the significant bottom-line benefits of a positive culture, including increased innovation and improved return on investment. They also highlighted the human benefits of a positive culture, such as increased job satisfaction, motivation, and overall well-being. Chad shared his personal motivation for focusing on culture, which is to help people thrive and succeed in their work environments. Both agreed that while financial impacts are important, the people impact is equally transformative and drives business success.
Shaping Culture for Healthy Organizations
Jonathan and Chad discussed the importance of culture in organizations. Jonathan emphasized that culture is the foundation of any successful organization and that it's crucial to shape it in a healthy direction. He also shared his thoughts on an article he read, which argued that culture is a waste of time and energy. Jonathan disagreed with this view, stating that there are actionable ways to influence culture, even at a micro level. Chad agreed with Jonathan's perspective, acknowledging that efforts to change culture can be wasted if they only go part way. They both agreed that it's essential to have a positive culture and that it's possible to shape it in a healthy direction.
Culture, Values, and Intentionality Discussed
Chad and Jonathan discussed the importance of culture in organizations, emphasizing that it's not just about creating mission statements and values, but also about living up to them. Chad highlighted the need for follow-through and tangible actions to ensure that values are not just lip service. He also mentioned the use of a culture operating system to identify behaviors and rituals that drive values. Jonathan agreed, stressing the importance of intentionality in maintaining a good culture. They both warned against the potential backfire of not living up to espoused values, which could lead to a degraded culture.
Striving for Perfection in Values
Jonathan discussed the importance of striving for perfection in values and mission statements, even though nobody expects complete adherence. He used the example of Enron to illustrate the consequences of giving lip service to values without truly living up to them. Jonathan emphasized the need to work towards living up to these values, acknowledging when shortcomings occur and learning from them. He also stressed the importance of being real with each other and systematizing these values. Chad agreed with Jonathan's points.
Systematizing Values for Positive Culture
Jonathan and Chad discussed the importance of systematizing values in an organization to ensure they are lived and not just aspirational. They highlighted Johnson and Johnson as an example of a company that has successfully integrated its values into its daily operations, leading to a positive culture. Chad warned against having purely aspirational values, emphasizing the need for them to be lived and acted upon. They also discussed the need for rituals and behaviors that support these values, and the importance of having systems in place to reinforce them. Chad further suggested that investing in culture can lead to exponential returns, but only if the organization goes beyond the middle ground.
Intentionality in Leadership and Culture
Jonathan and Chad discussed the importance of intentionality in leadership and its impact on workplace culture and employee performance. Chad emphasized the need for leaders to examine their systems, from onboarding to performance management, to create a positive work environment. He encouraged leaders to connect with him through LinkedIn and his website, lifeabundantleadership.com.
Listen to the webinar here:
