Change Attitudes To Change Culture

So, what's really the problem?

This is a very interesting question. Unfortunately, most organizations don't ask that simple question the right way. They make assumptions when what they should be doing is clarifying what their problems really are.

Here's a perfect example: forcing your people into Time Management courses when time management isn't really the problem, it's the symptom. Chances are, if the vast majority of your people are using their time unwisely then your organization is probably suffering substantial apathy -- because nothing more than that is being asked of these people. That apathy is the result of poor workplace attitudes and a corporate culture that says how you use your time isn't really important.

The same could be said for employing Communication courses. Are you holding a communication course because every one of your people is poor at communicating or are you holding the communication course because one or two people don't seem to communicate well? Most times, it's a few bad apples that have no idea how to communicate effectively and unfortunately, the rest of staff is penalized as a result. But if it's an entire organizational concern, then communication isn't the issue. You have a poor culture of communication or an attitude that says good communication isn't important.

In both cases, accountability is waning, responsibility is absent, and a genuine, productive attitude is completely missing in the workplace. It's obvious: your people could care less about their coworkers. If they did care, they would take the time necessary to ensure that their messages are fully understood. Open communication would be the rule as opposed to the exception.

Having an attitude of respect for your coworkers is perhaps the most critical component of developing a strong, workable corporate culture. If senior management does not demonstrate their commitment to their people through their words, communications, honest feedback and demonstrated leadership example then there is no way that the employees will feel that they have to make an effort either.

And management, not by their policies or directives, but by their very example has created a culture of apathy, a culture of disrespect, a culture of wasting time and a culture where no one speaks to each other.

If you believe that your organization needs to address company-wide concerns like communication or time management, then I am willing to bet dollars to doughnuts that the issue is not communication or time management but is, in fact, the workplace attitude issue -- it's part of your culture. And you won't fix it without addressing the attitudes that created the problem in the first place.
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Attitude w/ ATTITUDE

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