When I speak to leaders and mention culture, I see a metaphorical two hands up in the air and a comment like ‘Oh I can’t touch culture, culture is an organisation initiative, not mine to mess with’.
In most cases, culture is an organisational initiative being managed by a people team and sponsored by the Executive. There are often KPIs attached to culture outcomes, and Boards are becoming more interested given many serious culture misses in recent times.
But that doesn’t mean to say that it’s a no-go zone for team leaders. In fact, leaders play a crucial role in crafting culture for their teams.
In any organisation, the emotional culture at the sub-culture level can significantly impact drivers like performance, engagement and employee well-being. While the People and Culture folks might set the tone for organisational values and behaviours, the emotional culture within smaller teams or departments often dictates how employees feel daily. And when they feel more positive emotions, they are more likely to feel good about coming to work.
Addressing emotional culture at a sub-culture level allows for more tailored and responsive leadership. While each team or department within an organisation has unique challenges and dynamics, by understanding and nurturing the specific emotional needs of these groups, leaders can implement more effective strategies that resonate with their teams. This approach not only enhances employee loyalty and retention but also empowers teams to perform at their best, driving the organisation toward its strategic goals.
When leaders pay attention to sub-cultures, they have the opportunity to cultivate environments where positive emotions like joy, trust, and connection can be proactively managed. This, in turn, boosts morale, enhances collaboration, and drives productivity.
So, the questions you can ask yourself as a team leader;
- What can you work on now, next and later to improve the sub-culture in your team?
- How do you acknowledge and honour the sub-cultures in your organisation?
- What does an ideal healthy sub-culture look and feel like for you?
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