When it Comes to Company Culture, Good Leaders Set the Example
Posted July 26th, 2017
A company’s culture is set by the leaders of the organization, even when it isn’t done so actively. Often, employees look to upper management as guides for their actions, and leaders who lack integrity or distrust their workforce will create a culture that harbors resentment or encourages poor behavior.
To have a positive company culture, leaders must set a good example. To help drive this point home, here are some examples of how the actions of upper management affect those around them.
Transparency
In most cases, leaders have the ability to carefully craft communications and control the information that is disseminated throughout the organization. If managers avoid open and honest conversations, it cultivates an air of mistrust. Further, employees who don’t have the necessary information to perform due to these actions won’t have confidence in their leaders.
By choosing to share information in a productive manner, employees learn to rely on their managers as sources of honest information. This can increase productivity while building a positive atmosphere based on mutual trust and respect.
Selfishness
While most workers understand their actions are reflections upon their manager, having credit usurped can kill motivation. Employees want to be recognized for a job well done. And, if a leader constantly takes credit for the work of others, it’s hard to push through challenges when it is unlikely their dedication will be acknowledged.
Taking active steps to ensure credit is given when it is due can help encourage teams to give their all. Even sharing in the success is beneficial, as long as employees are recognized for their contributions.
Accountability
Since leaders operate at the top, they are in a position to shift blame when things don’t turn out as planned. However, when upper managers aren’t made culpable for their part, leaving others to shoulder the burden of the errors, it builds resentment. It can also encourage others to avoid being accountable for their actions, as it sets a precedence that admitting to one’s shortcomings isn’t necessary.
While leaders don’t have to carry all of the blame for something going wrong, it is important that they acknowledge their mistakes when they occur. This helps create a culture focused on integrity and encourages others to act in kind.
Inconsistency
Often, leaders are responsible for enforcing policies and ensuring everyone acts within the same standards. However, when upper management isn’t held to those same rules, it creates an “us and them” mentality within the workforce. This can lead some employees to attempt to bend the rules as they have seen leaders do while others simply resent having to adhere to a different code than those above them.
Leaders need to show that everyone is subject to the same standards as a demonstration of consistency. By doing so, a culture that supports right-action is created, and everyone is clear on how things need to be done.
Creating a positive company culture is a top-down action. By ensuring leadership is acting in ways that cultivate an ideal environment, employees are more likely to operate in a similar manner. If you are interested in finding new workers who can support your company culture, the professionals at Bayside Solutions can locate top candidates to fill your vacant positions. Contact us to see how our services can help you find the best job seekers available.
