Greetings!

What is Your Culture?

Blue Banana, a chain body-piercing studio in Cardiff, Wales fired Katy Tanner, absent on a sick day, by text message. The company defended their actions by saying “we are a youth business and our staff are all part of the youth culture that uses (text) messaging as a major means of communication,” said Ian Bisbie, a Blue Banana director in a statement emailed to the South Wales Echo newspaper. (Associated Press) 

The words and actions of leadership create your organizational culture. It is that simple and that complicated. That story will become part of the folklore of Blue Banana and affect the culture for a long time. Imagine what all those body piercers in Wales are saying about submitting their résumés!

How is your culture being described? What are some of the stories that determine people’s interest in working for you? Or the engagement levels of current staff? Culture is based on organizational character. Organizational character is a result of the systems, practices and behaviour of the entire team. Just for fun, ask some of your team to describe, in three sentences, the culture of your organization.

Want to Publish?

Interested in publishing a story? I am requesting short stories that describe organizational culture for my new book. It could be the description of a team, a department or the whole organization. What is it like to work there? How engaged are people in their work? What engages them? Disengages them?

Here is an example - The Cardinal Golf Club Story.

If you prefer to tell your story and I write it up, that is great is well. Give me a call and to arrange a time. Here are some writing tips if you want to become a published author! Link to tips!

Have a wonderful end of summer,

Character in the Workplace Training Programme

We are offering two public sessions in October 2006.

1. Three morning sessions for Senior Leaders; Leadership by Engagement, Ethics in the Workplace and Incorporating Character Attributes in Your Organization.

2. Management Series – Clarify the Culture, Know Your Character, Respect Yourself, Respect Others, Harness Conflict and Build Trust.

Click Here to Learn More!