As a manager or business owner, there’s often outside noise telling you to improve your workplace culture.
This can come from a range of sources, many of whom either haven’t walked in your shoes or have little hands-on experience in workplace culture.
This is real
You may remember that my wife Georgie has been in the café and catering business for over 20 years, with me as a (mostly) silent partner.
Having a people-based business has taught me a lot about workplace culture.
Culture is about me, my attitudes and my habits.
To have a strong workplace culture, I (eventually) worked out I needed to have a strong ‘individual culture’. This has extended well beyond my café life, where it was important to model how I wanted our staff to act in a variety of situations.
Nowadays I’m also thinking more about my own approach to challenges and how I respond to them.
Culture and momentum
An ‘a-ha’ moment for me was reading a news article about the Chair of a troubled corporation. Their share price had taken a hammering and they’d lost a heap in value.
Their Chair responded by saying, “I know it’s tough. My role is to keep moving, no matter what. I just need to take the first step and keep moving. Right now that’s the best I can do.”
Wow! That really hit me- so honest and raw.
How many times have we all been in tough situations and just become overwhelmed, thinking “where do I start?”
Yep, even after facilitating over 1400 workshops, this still happens.
Now I just take a first step and keep moving. Before too long I get some momentum up and am on track again.
Value of attitude in workplace culture
So this is now my attitude – take the first few steps and keep moving. It shapes my habits and has become part of my culture. 
Outside of work this approach has been a winner. I’ve signed up again for the 12km Run for a Reason. The first step (coming back from injury) was a 2.0km jog combined with a 2.5km walk.
Each training session has its pain, but keeping moving is what it’s all about – that’s what keeps getting me through.
The learning?
Keep breaking down the tough tasks into manageable chunks, find a starting point and take the first step.
Get good support along the way and you’ll be able to develop, model and live a vibrant workplace and individual culture.
PS – Looking for help in trying this for yourself? Get in touch or go hard and book a FREE planning session today
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