A Look Back and Look Forward: Where Are You Headed with Culture?

by Dec 11, 2024

Culture can make or break a workplace. If that sounds dramatic, but consider this: 94% of executives and 88% of employees believe a strong workplace culture is critical to business success, yet 69% of employees say their organizations lack a culture where feedback is valued and encouraged.

The gap between what’s desired and what’s delivered is glaring—and you’re often caught in the crossfire.

You’ve felt the tension of juggling employee engagement strategies, leadership buy-in, and culture-building while being tasked with “doing more with less.” You’re the silent architect behind the scenes, working tirelessly to transform workplaces into thriving communities. But when was the last time you stepped back to reflect on where your culture efforts are headed—and whether they’re paying off?

 

The State of Workplace Culture: A Reality Check

Let’s take a moment to reflect. Over the past few years, we’ve seen organizations face massive changes. Shifting to remote work, managing hybrid teams, dealing with layoffs, and navigating the wave of quiet quitting. Through it all, one thing has become clear: great workplace culture isn’t optional anymore—it’s essential.

 

Looking Forward: Where Are You Headed with Culture?

Now for the hard truth: culture doesn’t evolve by accident. If you’re not actively shaping it, it’s shaping you—and not always in the way you’d like. So, what does the future hold for your organization’s culture?

Here’s what’s certain: the old “set it and forget it” mindset doesn’t work. Culture is a living, breathing thing that requires constant care and attention. And as you look ahead, you must ask yourself:

  • Are we intentionally aligning our culture with our goals?
  • Are we addressing the root causes of toxicity, disengagement, or turnover?
  • Are we creating a workplace that attracts and retains top talent?

 

As experts in workplace culture,

We’re here to help HR professionals like you take a proactive approach to shaping the future of your organization. Here’s how we can work together:

  • Assess your current culture: Using employee surveys and in-depth audits, we’ll uncover the pain points and opportunities hiding in plain sight.
  • Develop actionable strategies: From training to employee engagement programs, we’ll create a roadmap tailored to your unique needs.
  • Create awesome leaders: Managers need certain skills to create the culture you want. We equip them with skills like communication and conflict resolution through a 6-series cohort program to drive the change you envision.
  • Foster accountability and growth: Because culture isn’t a one-and-done project; it’s a commitment to continuous improvement.

As you reflect on your culture journey and plan for the future, lean on the Culture Maturity Model we created for you—a roadmap that outlines the progressive stages your organization may traverse in cultivating and refining culture. This model helps you assess where your workplace currently stands, identify areas for improvement, and track progress over time.

So, let’s collaborate to turn your culture vision into a reality. Together, we can build a workplace culture that drives success at every level of your organization.

Many organizations ignore employee engagement because it feels elusive and expensive. Rather than getting caught up in the fear and doing nothing, download our eBook on employee engagement, and get started.

 

About Catherine Mattice

Catherine Mattice, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP is President of consulting and training firm, Civility Partners, and has been successfully providing programs in workplace bullying and building positive workplaces since 2007. Her clients include Fortune 500’s, the military, several universities and hospitals, government agencies, small businesses and nonprofits. She has published in a variety of trade magazines and has appeared several times on NPR, FOX, NBC, and ABC as an expert, as well as in USA Today, Inc Magazine, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur Magazine, and more. Catherine is Past-President of the Association for Talent Development (ATD), San Diego Chapter and teaches at National University. In his book foreword, Ken Blanchard called her book, BACK OFF! Your Kick-Ass Guide to Ending Bullying at Work, “the most comprehensive and valuable handbook on the topic.” She recently released a second book entitled, SEEKING CIVILITY: How Leaders, Managers and HR Can Create a Workplace Free of Bullying.

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