Cultivating a Culture that Counts: A Blueprint for Attracting and Retaining Top Talent

An organization's internal dynamics are like ripples extending far beyond its walls, influencing the customer experience in an era where attracting and retaining the best employees is paramount, creating a workplace culture that echoes has never been more critical. 

The Pitfalls of Toxic Workplaces

The term "toxic workplace" is pervasive in today's society, with nearly 30 million U.S. workers reportedly perceiving their workplace as toxic, according to Business Insider. However, toxic environments rarely start that way and struggle to survive in today's hyper-competitive landscape. The real question is, where does the journey towards toxicity begin? One major stumbling block is the inconsistency between an organization's stated values and their representation within its leadership.

The Consistency Conundrum

Many companies proudly articulate core values upon their inception, but the challenge lies in maintaining consistency across all levels of leadership. If the leadership fails to embody and consistently demonstrate these values, employees further down the hierarchy will struggle to align themselves with the stated principles. Inconsistency can be more detrimental than not having values at all, as human nature tends to remember negative experiences longer than positive ones. Leaders must be the living embodiment of the organization's core values to inspire their teams effectively.

The Why of Corporate Culture

Jonathan Keyser, Wall Street Journal bestselling author and a disrupter in the commercial real estate industry, emphasizes the profound impact of a good culture. He asserts that a robust culture acts as a safeguard, protecting a business's most valuable resources. Neglecting culture can result in setbacks, including brain drain, high recruitment costs, training and development time, and impaired collaboration, all translating to financial loss.

Five Steps to a Healthy Workplace Culture

Jonathan Keyser shares five steps to create a culture of selfless service that not only attracts but retains employees:

• Reflect: Define the behaviors and attitudes you seek in employees, creating a mental persona for the ideal individual. Reflect on these qualities in your organization's behavior.
• Specify: Move beyond ambiguous corporate values. Provide clear definitions and descriptions of key phrases, outlining their application in workplace interactions.
• Differentiate: Identify what sets your culture apart from competitors. Define your unique principles and clearly communicate how they translate into actions within your organization.
• Implement: Translate your specified values into actionable steps. Be specific about expected behaviors, and take corrective action if misalignments occur.
• Realign: Acknowledge that alignment with the culture may falter at times. Continuously monitor and evaluate the culture, conducting regular check-ins with employees and utilizing tools like Personal User Manuals and Team Operating Systems to realign your team. 

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What To Take Away

Building a healthy workplace culture is not a one-time thing but a continuous process that demands commitment, consistency, and vigilance. By following these five steps and remaining dedicated to defending the culture, organizations can attract and retain top talent and foster an environment that keeps employees and customers engaged and satisfied.

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