Management In A Changing World

CHAPTER 11BUILDING A HEALTHY CULTURE

When a workplace has a great culture, you can feel it. Bex remembers visiting Monna's field office during the 2012 Mainers United for Marriage campaign—they felt transported. The camaraderie was palpable, the communication was easy and effective, and staff were hitting and exceeding their goals. This was a place that made people look forward to going to work. In fact, several college students joined the campaign for a summer internship, then got so invested that they took the fall semester off to see it through. (And the end was a victory for marriage equality!)

There's an old adage that if you ask a fish what water is, it won't know what you're talking about. It's so constantly surrounded by water that it can't imagine water as something separate. Culture can be a lot like that. We're so immersed in it that we don't always know what we're swimming in. But, unlike the fish, we can shape and co‐create culture, which comprises the policies, practices, and little daily actions we take that manifest our core beliefs and values.

Every culture is different. Think about your favorite restaurant. Is it loud and bustling, or quiet and serene? Does it have white tablecloths or tabletop jukeboxes? These elements and more combine to create a unique experience for diners.

The same is true of workplace cultures; all kinds of cues can give you a sense of an organization's culture. For example, do people regularly drop by each other's desks and chat? Do ...