Creating Community in the Workplace
I've been thinking a lot about building communities in the workplace as a way to create a great place to work and to retain more employees.
This article on "Why a Company is Not a Family - And How Companies Can Bond with their Employees Instead" resonated deeply with me and several of the folks in my network.
I worked with an organization once that touted being a great place to work because they said they treated their employees like "family." Turns out it was a "family" with very strict rules and norms that employees, not the family/company, had to follow, like....
Requiring employees to give a month's notice before leaving (even though the employer let people go without notice all the time);
Requiring employees to pitch in on paying for co-worker gifts (even though the org had a very large budget with no line item for employee recognition);
And, requiring employees with real families and priorities to attend frequent after-hours events to celebrate birthdays and work anniversaries (rather than carving out some time during the workday).
Although I love my family dearly and I love working with my co-workers (clients), they are not one in the same.
When organizations describe their culture as a "family," it has always made me personally a bit uncomfortable. I don't believe the intention behind the sentiment is bad, but rather that it's an inaccurate description of what the workplace culture is actually like.
Instead, I prefer to use the word COMMUNITY.
I am grateful to work with several leaders who are actively creating inclusive communities in their teams and organizations. These leaders are building workplace communities rooted in....
Trust and authentic relationships, while respecting personal boundaries
Shared values, missions, and goals in the workplace
Co-created "team agreements" for how community members agree to communicate, make decisions, etc.
Frequent opportunities for employees to give feedback (and making changes based on that feedback.)
Equity in how pay, promotions, and other decisions are made
Open, honest conversations around expectations and accountability with both supervisors and employees
Shared access to resources such as employee assistance programs and training opportunities
I recently sat down with The Nonprofit Show to Talk about "Creating Community in the Workplace."
Watch the show here to learn more about...
Differences between teams that operate as a family vs. as a community
The best way to ask for employee feedback during the great reshuffle (aka the great resignation)
And, 3 key priorities for retaining employees in this economy
Do you need immediate HR Support?
Get quick answers to your HR/Leadership questions from an HR pro by scheduling an HR Strategy Session. Receive expert guidance and a clear plan of action to resolve your immediate HR issues in an easy pay-as-you-go format.
