This segment allows managers to ask questions answered directly by our CEO, Darcy Swift. This month’s question is: How do I End the Culture of Fear?
QUESTION: I just recently started a new senior management position and I have noticed that the overall culture in my office is fear. People feels as though they need to be constantly available, even outside of office hours and during PTO. This is mainly due to the overly strict manager before me along with some of the people above me. I have talked to my team on multiple occasions both as a group and individually to let them know my expectations are not as rigid. Yet, they still apologize if emails are not returned until the next morning. Some feel the need to come in for team meetings when they are on PTO, and send out mass emails to the office when they are leaving for lunch or a doctor’s appointment.
I hate this overly stressed culture of constant availability. It is completely unnecessary, and I feel like it works against them as they are constantly on edge and stressed out. I am new, so I know my team doesn’t fully trust that they will not be in trouble if they stray from this way of doing things, but I really want it to stop. How do I go about changing the mindset of fear in my team? How do I gain their trust and change the overall culture into one that is more relaxed?
ANSWER: There are many different tactics you can use in order to start changing the culture within your office. One thing you can do is start having weekly staff meetings with a more relaxed vibe. Bring in donuts or coffee, celebrate birthdays or achievements, talk about what needs to be done, but make sure you set fun and relaxed tone from the beginning. This will help initiate the change in culture. Second, once a month schedule a team building exercise at the end of the week. This is your opportunity to do something fun as a group and maybe let everyone go home a little early.
Overall, the best way to change a rigid, fearful work culture is to slowly bring in a more calming energy. Anything you can do to bring in more laughter and fun will help facilitate more of a relaxed culture to the workplace. The main thing you want to remember is that nothing is going to happen overnight. Try to remain patient and understanding with your staff. They have been an a very rigid, high stress environment and it takes time for things to shift.
If you have a question you want answered, please CONTACT US HERE. We will feature one frequently asked question a month.
This segment allows managers to ask questions answered directly by our CEO, Darcy Swift. This month’s question is: How do I End the Culture of Fear?
QUESTION: I just recently started a new senior management position and I have noticed that the overall culture in my office is fear. People feels as though they need to be constantly available, even outside of office hours and during PTO. This is mainly due to the overly strict manager before me along with some of the people above me. I have talked to my team on multiple occasions both as a group and individually to let them know my expectations are not as rigid. Yet, they still apologize if emails are not returned until the next morning. Some feel the need to come in for team meetings when they are on PTO, and send out mass emails to the office when they are leaving for lunch or a doctor’s appointment.
I hate this overly stressed culture of constant availability. It is completely unnecessary, and I feel like it works against them as they are constantly on edge and stressed out. I am new, so I know my team doesn’t fully trust that they will not be in trouble if they stray from this way of doing things, but I really want it to stop. How do I go about changing the mindset of fear in my team? How do I gain their trust and change the overall culture into one that is more relaxed?
ANSWER: There are many different tactics you can use in order to start changing the culture within your office. One thing you can do is start having weekly staff meetings with a more relaxed vibe. Bring in donuts or coffee, celebrate birthdays or achievements, talk about what needs to be done, but make sure you set fun and relaxed tone from the beginning. This will help initiate the change in culture. Second, once a month schedule a team building exercise at the end of the week. This is your opportunity to do something fun as a group and maybe let everyone go home a little early.
Overall, the best way to change a rigid, fearful work culture is to slowly bring in a more calming energy. Anything you can do to bring in more laughter and fun will help facilitate more of a relaxed culture to the workplace. The main thing you want to remember is that nothing is going to happen overnight. Try to remain patient and understanding with your staff. They have been an a very rigid, high stress environment and it takes time for things to shift.
If you have a question you want answered, please CONTACT US HERE. We will feature one frequently asked question a month.