For your 2021 to be a better year than 2020, something needs to change, and you may be just the person for the job.
On returning to work a few weeks ago, after an energising break, I realised something about the choices we make around how we spend our time each day and how we respond to stressful events. We need the ability and willingness to change and/or at the very least, adapt.
But first let’s at least acknowledge two key questions that you may have already considered like:
- what is it that throws us back into those old habitual ways so quickly, even when we have all good intentions to start the year afresh, by doing things differently?
- why is it so hard to build the new habits that will benefit performance outcomes?
In this article, the first in a three-part series, we’ll tackle how behaviour and habits impact culture and share some tips on how you can get yourself and your culture in shape for the year to come.
Start by focusing on the things that will actually matter and de-emphasise the rest
What are the one or two aspects of work you would like to positively impact, to enable your teams and your culture to meet this year’s demands? Do you need to be more responsive, do people need to focus on solutions, is trust lacking or do you want to be a destination for the best talent? Where do your priorities intersect with the greatest workplace needs?
In any workplace reality, but especially in the continually evolving one of 2021, there are many people, decisions, challenges, opportunities and interactions that are competing for your attention. Even once you have defined a clear intention or goal around what you want to shift, unless that goal really matters to you and your people you’ll fall back into old and ineffective habits – nothing will change.
Now this is important: cultural change is underpinned by human intelligence. As leaders, we need to be continually bringing the new “way” to life, focusing on the desired shift and moving attention away from the old, well-worn habits that inhibit progress.
The organisational challenge – it takes change to make change
Many organisations get stumped at the point when it comes to translating the defined target culture into organisational reality. So, if that’s you, you are not alone. And this is where it starts to get a bit messy. Not only are organisations complex, but people are too! In fact, when it comes to changing behaviours, mindsets, and motivating people to act in a values-aligned way – complexities are amplified.
The type of behavioural change we are talking about takes time. It is not a transaction that happens by being told to change, or even by attending a training course – we are working along a continuum from A to E, with a number of steps along the journey. And forward progress demands our attention, feedback and developing a continuously-evolving self-awareness.
Perception is reality, and it starts from the top – are you the leader you need to be?
Culture is formed and re-formed by everything that is done in the business every day. As leaders, we set the tone for any culture change and through our own behaviour we construct the stories that help others connect with the vision in their day-to-day work.
If we want to move the whole organisation towards the culture we aspire to, we need to first look at ourselves and determine our leadership worth. For example:
- How am I (and we as an executive team) in meetings – and why does this matter?
- How do I show up to work every day and communicate with others? Is this transmitting the right messages?
- What do I actually place value on when making choices and decisions? Is this aligned with the cultural shift we are endeavouring to create?
- Can I adapt and learn?
It starts with you and your leaders! There’s no escape. Holding the mirror up, observing and honestly “paying attention” to how you engage with others, adapt, respond, think and “be” everyday is the first step in the cultural change process. The question is, are you up for this? And will you take reflective, corrective action on yourself if needed, in order to better lead the cultural shift you seek?
At this stage, you may find there are more questions than answers but remember, better questions lead to the best answers. Over the course of the coming weeks, this series will help you find the answers that will better shape your culture in 2021.
