CASE STUDY: High Impact Culture Change

by Nov 11, 2016

The irony. At an organization whose mission was to help people with disabilities thrive in the community, the workplace bullying had become rampant.

The former CEO had been a real bully himself; his leadership and personality style had dripped downward into the organization, and a culture of bullying and negativity ensued.

The board of directors could see the organization slipping downhill. They asked the CEO to step down, and they replaced him with a new CEO who was charged with making big change. The new CEO sought help from Civility Partners, because she knew to remove workplace bullying, she needed to replace it with a new culture.

Together we came up with a five step plan.

  1. Train the leaders, managers and supervisors in driving culture change
  2. Create a culture committee made up of people from all levels of the organization
  3. Create a social vision that would drive the new culture
  4. Update the core values so that they resonated with the employees
  5. Develop a strategic plan around the new values.

After a four-hour training on culture change, a committee was indeed created by asking for volunteers as well as assigning some key organizational champions. Using input gained through various exercises with employees, the social vision, “Enhancing Lives” was eventually created, and the old core values were replaced with new ones: Integrity, Communication, Accountability, Respect, Collaboration, Professionalism.

The CEO knew that culture change couldn’t stop there, so with coaching from Civility Partners in the background, she worked with her departments to develop action items around these new values.

Ultimately a strategic plan was created so that the organization would stay on track for culture change.

And here’s what the CEO has to say about the impact of our work together:

We were “experiencing a very hostile and volatile work environment to the point that employees, good friends who had shared an office for over three years, were no longer able to work side by side. Behavior that would be seen on the playground with young teenagers was being replayed for some staff… Today, people are smiling and looking at one another.  Laughter is heard in the halls.  People are able to problem solve and reach a good resolution. It has taken over a year and IRC is becoming, once again, a good place to work.”

Would you like to have this kind of an impact on your organization? Well, you can! Learn more about the ins and outs of solving workplace bullying by attending my two-day intensive course on Dec 5 and 6. Click here to fill out an application.

I’m spilling the beans. I’m giving you everything you need to solve bullying without me.

Here’s what I plan to cover:

  • A review of what academic research has to say about bullying, empowering you to speak confidently about its impact on your organization.
  • The major myths about workplace bullying and the real truth
  • The social system of workplace bullying and how to ignite the only effective solution – culture change
  • My proven methodology for solving workplace bullying
  • My training program for all employees, and for managers and supervisors (we’ll go through it slide by slide so you can deliver it on your own)
  • My coaching program for organizational leaders as you guide them through culture change

Pretty cool, eh?

There’s only a few spots left, so claim your spot ASAP by filling out the application.

Whether you are an internal HR professional, external consultant, attorney, EAP, workplace violence expert, risk management expert, someone who just wants to know more… this is for you.

If you want to learn how to solve bullying, you are invited.

Catherine Mattice, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Civility Partners
Your partner in building a positive workplace so your employees can thrive
www.CivilityPartners.com

Do you know how much money chronically bad behavior costs your company? Spoiler alert – it’s a LOT higher than you want it to be. Download our data and worksheet to see how it’s costing your organization and what you can do to fix it.

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.

Rebecca Del Secco: Six Years With Civility Partners!

We would like to take a moment to celebrate and recognize the incredible contributions of Rebecca Del Secco, our exceptional People & Culture Consultant, who has dedicated six remarkable years to Civility Partners.  Rebecca began her journey with us as an intern,...

Recognizing 5 DEIB Influencers in Unexpected Places

Picture this: a world where workplace culture is transformed not just by well-known DEIB influencers, but by unexpected heroes who wield the power of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in their own unique ways.  DEIB are increasingly recognized as...

10 Songs About Inclusion to Play in your Office

In a diverse and inclusive workplace, it's important to create an environment where all employees feel welcome and valued. One way to promote a sense of unity and acceptance is through the power of music.  Playing songs about inclusion in your office can help inspire...

It Starts with You: The Power of Being an Upstander

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you witnessed behavior that made you feel uncomfortable or uneasy, but weren't sure how to respond? Maybe it was a situation where someone was being bullied or harassed, or perhaps it was a situation where someone was...

Three More Brilliant Tips for Dealing with an Angry Boss

A few years ago, we shared five simple tips on how to deal with an angry boss, and the response was overwhelming! We're back with even more tips to help you navigate this challenging situation with civility in mind. According to a survey conducted by the Workplace...

Insights from the Craft Brewers Conference

Last Sunday, May 7th, I had the honor of being a keynote speaker at the THRIVE pre-conference, which was a roadmap to a safe, inclusive, and equitable experience at the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC). As a conference held in Nashville, TN, a city known for its musical...

3 Tips to Leverage Positive Psychology at Work

In the world of traditional thinking, the notion that success leads to happiness is a commonly held belief. We're taught that if we work hard and achieve our goals, then we'll be happy. However, research in positive psychology has revealed a new perspective: happiness...

The Power of Psychological Capital in Creating a Positive Work Culture

Have you ever pondered why some individuals seem to flourish in tough situations while others flounder? It's likely due to their high level of psychological capital, also known as "PsyCap." Researchers in the field of positive psychology have even coined the term Post...

3 Fun Team-Building Exercises to Boost Employee Engagement

When your team members feel appreciated, connected, and invested in their work, they tend to be more productive, creative, and committed to the success of your company. But how do you keep your team members feeling engaged, connected, and excited about their work?...

How Does Your Work Culture Measure Up?

Workplace culture is like the secret sauce that gives your organization its unique flavor. It's a mixtape of attitudes, behaviors, and vibes that make your team groove, from epic dance-offs during lunch breaks to friendly rivalries over who has the coolest coffee...