Similar to our health, business environments show tell-tale signs when something isn’t right.
Similar to our health, business environments show tell-tale signs when something isn’t right. Give your office culture a health check by looking out for these unwanted behaviours.
Passive-aggressive communication is the norm
Found far too much in the Australian workplace, passive-aggressive behaviour results in side-stepping direct solutions to a problem, feeds gossip and ultimately ends up involving a whole lot of people who had nothing to do with the original problem and don’t contribute to its resolution.
Lack of discretionary effort
“’It’s not in my job description’ is not a healthy mantra. A vibrant workplace is made up of individuals who care and want to go beyond the bullet points of their job description. If your staff have resorted to the ‘just a cog in a wheel’ attitude and only care for number one, it’s time to turn the workplace around.
Death by committee
While management has its place, if every decision requires approval from one place or another the innovative ideas from a group of keen minds will falter. Great cultures embrace a principle of ‘seek forgiveness rather than permission’.
People become clock-watchers
No one wants to spend another half day at work after a full day at work. But if your staff are ready to sprint for the door at COB it could be a sign that the office is the last place they want to be at any time, any day. This ultimately will be detrimental to the growth of your business and a good sign that something needs to be fixed.
This article is an adaptation of How to stop your brokerage turning toxic, from our sister title Insurance Business New Zealand.
