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Company Culture…What’s all the hubbub?

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You can’t go anywhere in the business or corporate space without hearing the word “culture”.  Companies boast about their culture and/or employees complain about it.  In my opinion the word culture is far often used and overused without awareness, intention or thought.

Corporate Culture:  A blend of the values, beliefs, taboos, symbols, rituals and myths all companies develop over time ~Entrepreneur’s encyclopedia

I agree with this definition and feel the most unfortunate part of it is that many companies don’t intentionally develop it.  Rather it gets developed and passed on from leader to manager to employee without awareness or acknowledgment of the true impact culture has on it’s employees and worse yet, it’s customers.  

I have worked for companies with cultures of workaholism, micromanagement, disrespect for functions other than the services sold, and abusive verbal communication.  And not one of those companies had any of those things in their mission, vision, and values statement.  As a matter of fact, I was not aware if some of these companies even had a values statement.

Could you imagine working for a company who told you in the interview “We work our people 80 hours per week and you get to be micromanaged along the way”?  Would you buy from a Apple if they said “We think people who aren’t engineering the latest iProducts are worthless and stupid”?  I imagine your answer would be no to both.

Intentionally creating a Mission/Vision/Values (MVV) statement  is becoming more of a mainstream focus for organizations.  In the past, the exercise of creating an MVV was reserved for the large corporations with an executive team, but that is no longer the case.  Companies of all sizes are interested in actually designing and living their Mission, Vision and Values.  And with the three generations (baby boomers, gen X and millennials) of people in one workplace, companies have to find a way to get everyone on the same page of the same book so there isn’t disengagement and discourse.

In my work with executives and leadership teams, the “creating the right culture” conversation happens every day.  The amazing people I get to work with are truly interested in and investing in creating a culture that intentionally attracts and keeps engaged, committed and connected team members.  These leaders are using language like “team members” instead of “employees”, they are getting input, agreement and consensus so that everyone on the team feels valued and values each other.  As the organization grows and moves forward, everyone is not only sure that they are on a bus taking them where they want to go, but they are sure the bus has like minded people who care about the same things they do.

So what IS all the hubbub about creating the right company culture?  It is about business sustainability, growth.  It is about employee engagement.  And it is ultimately about business and personal fulfillment!

Coaching Exercise:  Identify the gap in what your company culture IS and what you WANT it to be.

4 Keys to Effective Goal Getting

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As a business coach I get to work with business owners and corporate professionals in setting and reaching their goals.  I am lucky to get to be the person to help them design and live the life and business they love and effective goal setting is the foundation for our work.

Here are the 4 keys that I have found most helpful for myself and my clients.

KEY #1 – Utilize the S.M.A.R.T goal setting method
Specific – Goals should be specific and allow you to stretch and the description should be simple enough to quickly inspire you on a daily basis.

Measurable – You will want to be able to measure your success once you reach the goal as well as every step of the way.

Attainable – As mentioned above, you will want to stretch into your goal, AND you will want to make sure you are able to reach your goal.  This goal is to be inspired and a little scared.

Relevant – Goals must relevant, closely connected to experience that you want for your business or personal life NOW.

Time Bound – Goals are short term (2 weeks, 6 months, 1 year).  Anything longer than that and it might as well be a strategic plan or vision which requires a different approach.

KEY #2 – Get an Accountability Partner or three  Every person I have ever known benefits from being held accountable – EVERY PERSON!  Accountability partners can be a peer that you check in with, a supervisor who meets with you on your goals frequently or a coach who meets with you weekly.  The point is having others that will help you stay focused and on track.

In the workshops I hold, I ask participants to have three types of accountability partners:

  1. The objective partner – Someone who will look at the facts and just the facts of if you took action and kept your word.  No judgement, just pointing out the facts.  This person may not know you as well as others and will will not be invested, emotionally or otherwise, in your results.
  2. The cheerleader – This is someone who will celebrate the wins in a BIG way.  They “woo hoo”, send cards, do a victory dance and/or anything else that helps you feel confident in your awesomeness.
  3. The collaborative partner – This person is the one who helps you not only keep focused on the goal but also the life that you are creating with the goal.  They help you see the forest for the trees, strategize course correction when needed, and support you in working through the lessons and challenges more effectively.

KEY # 3 – Create an action plan  Taking action is what actually gets you to your goal.  Most people will have an action plan (do step A, then step B, and then step C).  That is pretty straight forward.  Many people also have have a general contingency plan that takes into account foreseeable circumstances – if vendor A backs out, we go to vendor B.  But very few people have what I call the “when life happens” plan.  You know, the when you get sick, or when your computer breaks, or when you get to attend your kids 4 hr event because they won an award plan.

KEY #4 – BE the person who accomplishes great things!  This is self explanatory and in my opinion is THE single most important key to getting to the finish line of your goals!

To learn more about the upcoming Goal Getting Mastermind Program, click here.

A few Coaching Questions for Success in Business & Life

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Last weekend I took my daughter to see Rise of the Guardians.  It was a wonderful holiday movie and just happened to be full, and I mean FULL of incredible coachy insights and lessons.

I won’t spoil it but here are a few of the things I picked up from the movie

  1. Replace your fear with wonder and light
  2. Your deepest fear is when you realize you are chosen for something specific
  3. The most joyous time is when we have the experience of being seen, heard and understood for who we are at our center
  4. Your dreams are what allows your light to shine
  5. There will always be fear but as long as you believe the fear can be overcome

I found coaching at a time when I was truly searching for my calling.  I was desperate to know that I was indeed chosen for something more than the field of engineering which I wasn’t passionate about at all.  I wanted to be one of those people who was doing what they knew they were “supposed” to do. Well indeed I found my center, my calling and my passion.

Since I started my coaching practice, there has been fear, there has been joy, there has been doubt and there has been belief.  There has also been so much growth and learning not only about my calling but also about my past and how it has served me well.  This movie brought it all to light and I am grateful to have been gifted this additional insight through this movie.

So let’s bring the insights of the movie to you.  What do each of the learnings above mean to you?  How do they apply to your business, to your life?  If I were to call you today, and I just might 😉 and ask you what are you called to do with your life right now, what would you say?

We are almost in December and it is a great time of reflecting but an even better time to do the things that will help you finish the year meeting your goals.  Here are a few coaching questions that will support you in doing so.

Coaching questions:

  • What are the things (fears, thoughts or mindset) that hold you back from reaching your goals?
  • What is the specific thing you are “chosen for” to act upon today, this week, this month?
  • What dreams need to be realized now so that your light can shine?
  • Who do you need to “be” in order to accomplish all that you set out to this year?

As always, I would love to connect with you via email, FB or phone with how these questions help you keep the momentum to success.