Let’s forget the buzzwords for a moment. In fact, let’s forget words entirely. When it comes to creating a workplace where everyone feels engaged and valued, it’s the actions and behaviour of those at the top that will create the correct cultural tone.

Setting the right cultural tone and ensuring it is maintained over time can, and should, contribute to your leadership efforts and have a lasting impact.

What can be changed?

Creating the correct cultural tone is comprised of many different factors and it’s why many businesses look to us for further support to shape their organisations. To help, we’ve put together five ways you can seed behaviours that will raise productivity, innovation and retention at all levels of your organisation:

1. Be open and available to your people.

When boardroom level discussions don’t filter down to your teams, gossip and rumours will often fill in the gaps. That creates fear, and a ‘them and us’ mentality that fuels resentment and apathy. To create an open and honest environment, you need to share with your people what your plans are, why you made them, and for bonus points, ask them their opinions on company issues. Why is this so important? People will be more willing to embrace change, and contribute to goals, if they can understand what is going on, and feel part of the larger conversation.

2. Create transparent goals.

Could you explain in clear and simple language what success means for your business? Could you write your operational goals out in a large font, and stick them on the breakout room fridge? If your goals aren’t transparent enough to stand in as the text on a motivational poster, then tear them up and make them simpler. The more everyone in your organisation understands what they are here to achieve, the more cohesive your teams will be.

3. Celebrate great performance.

Having clear shared goals is half the battle, but you need to motivate your people to want to achieve them. That’s why you should look to praise and recognise those who help you meet goals. This lets everybody know that if they do put the effort in, they will be recognised by their leaders. This will inspire other team members, and also help attract talent to your organisation. After all, for many people, recognition is just as important as salary considerations when it comes to choosing an employer these days.

4. Underline the fact that everyone can contribute.

A culture is strengthened when every member of a team can feel like their contribution will be heard, considered and potentially acted upon. Being a leader who listens to ideas from across the business, and does it publicly and openly, will send out a clear message to everyone: Your contribution is welcome and encouraged. This is a great foundation for stimulating innovative thinking, embracing new ideas, and building resilience in the face of sudden change.

5. Make sure your company mission stands for more than financial success.

This is the real chicken and the egg of cultural leadership. If you can create a sense of aspiration for your business that focuses more on your contribution to a better world, rather than better profits, and communicate this clearly, you’ll unlock many great things. Studies have shown, again and again, that when a team is inspired by a greater mission, they will be more fulfilled, more focussed, and more driven. And as it turns out, all those things will contribute to your business achieving those profits too.

In leadership roles, it’s impossible not to contribute to the culture within an organisation. That’s why it’s so important to set the right tone and stay focused on maintaining it over time. ABSTRACT is here to support your organisation and ensure your leaders have a lasting impact.

Looking to set a cultural tone that ensures your business is ready for any challenge, able to attract the best talent, and capable of grasping success in the face of rapid change? Then get in touch.