Conclusion: Parts 6 & 7
6. Forgetting About Your People
Leaders who focus solely on achieving the organization’s goals risk neglecting their team members’ well-being and morale.
Leaders should prioritize creating a positive work culture that fosters inclusion and diversity.
With the right culture in place, then it is possible to achieve the mission, vision, values, and goals of an organization.
The organization’s culture supersedes any organizational strategic plan. Plans mean nothing without the people to execute them.
Problem-solving means all ideas are welcome, regardless of your generation, title, gender, or any other type of diversity.
Differences make us better, should be the mantra.
What to do instead:
- Create a positive work culture by valuing diversity and promoting inclusion.
- Prioritize your team members’ well-being by offering support and resources.
- Show gratitude for your team members’ contributions and celebrate small wins.
- Develop opportunities for team members to engage in a meaningful way that is focused on their personal growth.
7. Neglecting Small Wins
Leaders who only focus on achieving big goals risk neglecting the small wins that keep team members motivated and engaged.
Leaders should break down big goals into achievable steps and show gratitude for their team members’ contributions.
While the eye should be on the “big prize,” those small steps along the way are significant.
Elevating culture to raise morale is central to reaching any goal.
Taking time along the way to celebrate and express gratitude is a simple, but not easy, way to show employees you respect the work that they do.
There are simple ways to show gratitude and it doesn’t always have to be doughnuts.
What to do instead:
- Break down big goals into smaller, achievable steps.
- Celebrate small steps along the change process.
- Make gratitude a daily event rather than an occasional doughnut.
- Constantly communicate success in multiple ways throughout the organization.
Conclusion:
“From a Gallup long-term research study conducted over 11 years, companies with thriving corporate cultures grew 682% in revenue, while those that lacked good company culture grew only 166% in revenue. They found that a strong corporate culture highly values employees, customers, and owners while also fostering leadership from everyone in the organization.”
When leaders avoid the seven deadly mistakes, their organizations have the opportunity to flourish. It must be intentional, however. It must be a process and not a 2-day offsite. It must involve the organization.
When leaders build relationships, allow employees to actually do their jobs, delegate to grow others, trust in their team, adapt to impending change, focus on the people, and share in the gratitude, the workplace can be both engaging and meaningful and both retention and attraction of employees grows. With that comes increased productivity and a stronger bottom line.