The Power of Tiny Habits in Shaping Workplace Culture
A decade ago, I was promoted into a leadership role with greater responsibility. At the time, I felt like I had "made it" in my career. Yet, with this promotion, I was quickly ushered into an entirely new challenge – to mend and restore a team culture that had been severely damaged by my predecessor.
It was a daunting task. Relationships within the team were strained, morale was low, and the negative impact on our work was evident.
At first, I was overwhelmed, unsure of where to begin. However, I knew I needed to understand the situation deeply, so I made it a point to meet individually with all 45 team members spread across 16 different locations. These conversations opened my eyes, helping me grasp what was working, what wasn’t, and where we needed to go. Armed with these insights, I drew from industry best practices and the team’s feedback to lay out a strategic plan.
As I began to take the reins, I realized that nurturing a vibrant workplace culture was strikingly similar to making a New Year’s fitness resolution. Just as you can't expect a single day at the gym to transform your physique, a one-off team-building event was not going to rebuild our team culture. Consistency, I came to understand, was key.
Taking this to heart, I started implementing minor changes - simple habits that felt achievable and non-threatening. Each habit was like a brick in the foundation of what I hoped would eventually become a stronger, more positive team culture.
The initial step was small yet meaningful. I made it a point to have regular one-on-one meetings with everyone, including admin assistants, when necessary. Over time, I introduced regular team meetings. I was careful to only include those who really needed to be there and to ensure that each person had an opportunity to voice their thoughts. This strategy started fostering an atmosphere of inclusivity and open dialogue, enabling us to come up with more innovative solutions.
I also started to address individual concerns and friction points, streamlining processes and systems where possible, making their work more manageable.
Recognizing each team member's effort became another integral part of my approach. Acknowledging people’s efforts through a genuine "thank you" or a handwritten note, I found, did wonders for morale.
Each of these habits, in isolation, was a small adjustment. And none were revolutionary. But their combined effect was profound, reminding me of a valuable lesson I would later learn from James Clear's book, Atomic Habits - it's the compound effect of tiny habits that makes a big difference.
It is true. These small daily habits might have seemed trivial at first, but their cumulative effect was powerful.
Our team began evolving, becoming more collaborative, motivated, and innovative. This transformation wasn't brought about by a single habit but by the interplay of all these small, consistent habits.
Consistency, repetition, and an aim to better ourselves each day became our goal. We measured our progress annually, but the focus was not just on the results. We were more interested in creating an ethos of continuous improvement.
Reflecting back on this journey, I am struck by how these simple habits had the power to transform our team culture. The work was demanding, but each small step brought us closer to the kind of team we aspired to be, shaping our identity, and driving us towards our shared goals.
To those facing similar challenges in their workplaces, I extend this challenge - adopt this approach. Start small. Introduce tiny, manageable habits that will, over time, transform your workplace.
Remember, it's not about big, sweeping changes. The magic lies in the compounding effect of small habits.
Consider fostering inclusivity, recognizing efforts, and arranging one-on-one sessions. Adapt these to suit your team and circumstances, and always be on the lookout for other small habits that could have a positive impact.
It may seem insignificant at first, but as James Clear insightfully noted, every action you take is a vote for the kind of workplace you want to create. Trust the process. Time will magnify whatever you give it, and good habits make time your ally.
Best wishes, Lauren
P.S. Improving your workplace culture can be difficult, but it is possible. We're here to help. We offer a free 30-minute consultation to get you started. Feel free to reach out. Together, we can make your workplace better, one small habit at a time.