How to Create a Healthy Culture: 1 Thing to Do Today That Will Change Everything
Early in my career, I’d moved across the country for a new job. In those first few months of navigating the newness of my role and team, I made a conscious choice to go around my team leader for a decision. The situation involved differing perspectives on how to achieve an outcome and I knew that the regional leaders would back me if only I could get to them. As anticipated, they did back my idea; but in the aftermath, I knew I needed to smooth things out with my team leader.
I’ll never forget approaching him. I was nervous because I liked and respected him. I stated the facts of the situation. He let me know he was aware of how it all went down. I said something like, “Well, I hope it won’t impact our working relationship … “ hoping that would be enough to fix things.
What he said next I’ll never forget, “I can see why you wanted to approach [the process/outcome] that way, but I do feel disrespected by you.”
His words hit me like a ton of bricks. My “win” suddenly felt like a tremendous loss. He wasn’t unkind. In fact, there was nothing in the way he conveyed these words to indicate he held anything against me. But, he did speak something true to me. As I processed his experience with me, my actions paired with my desire to sweep them under the rug seemed so ugly. The truth is, it was ugly.
My team leader gave me a powerful gift that day. He gave me the chance to own my actions and their consequences. I had the opportunity to truly feel what I had done to him and later, to apologize (for real). I was out of order and no matter the benefits of my idea or its outcome, I’d created a relational rift in our organization through my actions.
In the many years since that time, I’ve learned that these small rifts become chasms if we don’t deal truthfully with ourselves and with others. The effect on people, and an organization as a whole, is profound. Want a healthy organizational culture? I submit that being willing to practice self-examination comes first (read about that here), but next comes the hard work of taking personal responsibility for our actions.
Here are a series of questions I like to ask myself as I practice the power of personal responsibility (you’re also welcome to read more here):
What happened in the situation?
How did I react/respond?
Is there anything I could have done differently? (with myself or others)
Which part or parts are mine to own?
What amends must I make?
Taking personal responsibility for our actions (or inactions) isn’t easy. But, leading well and creating health within our organizations requires nothing less than choosing to take responsibility for what is ours to own. Plus, I think we’ll like the people we become as we choose into this powerful practice.
Could you or your team benefit from practical help in creating and maintaining a healthy organizational culture? Reach out to our team. We’re happy to see how we might come alongside you in the season ahead.