Cleaning Out the Culture Cabinet
In our house we love coffee and that means we end up collecting coffee mugs. They have been given to us by friends, family and students. They signify cherished memories and favorite hobbies. At some point the cabinet, like our cups, runneth over, and it becomes time to clean out the cupboard. Cleaning out the cupboard this year reminded me of the stories each mug told about either the giver, the recipient or both.
I’m sure that in almost every organization there are stories about the culture, the people, the history, etc. The stories told in your organization reinforce the way things work and how people should behave. These parables provide guidance to your workforce on how to behave and react to the environment given a lack of specific direction. If you work at Nordstrom’s, the culture of using your good judgment and doing what’s best for the customer is reinforced throughout the hiring and training process. We have all heard stories of exceptional service at Nordstrom’s but imagine if you viewed your role as an opportunity to create one of those stories?
Why should you consider the stories told about your culture? The culture accelerates or impedes your business results. Consider how Starbucks uses their culture to bring their strategy to life. The culture they have fostered and reinforced is directly tied to the kind of environment they want to create for their customers. The culture in your organization, just like the culture at Nordstrom’s and Starbucks needs to be cared for and reinforced through stories. So what are the stories told about your organization?
I really like Susan Heathfield’s article because it gives some clear direction on how to address the stories that are being told, reinforce the positive messages you desire, and how to integrate them into many aspects of your employees’ work experience. It aligns well to the points made in the HBR article: organizations are better served by focusing on the stories and culture elements that drive the desired culture rather than focusing on the negative elements or trying to “fix” the culture.
As you begin the new year, you might find that it’s a good time to examine your cupboard and clean out the old stories. We took our old mugs, boxed them up, and put them away in our attic. Now I can easily retrieve a mug from my cupboard without disrupting the precarious, overstocked balance. I also get to relive selected memories every time I enjoy my daily cup of coffee (or two). Your unwanted stories won’t be as easy to remove and store away, but by focusing on a select few, you make a concerted effort to align and reinforce the culture you desire.
What are your thoughts on storytelling and culture? How are you using storytelling to reinforce the elements of your culture that you most desire?
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