How To Build and Sustain a Healthy Team Culture
I often get asked the question of HOW. “How do get healthier?” “How do I expand my creativity?” “How can I be more productive?” “How can I use the Enneagram to better myself?”
“How?” is my favorite question because I love walking others through a process and seeing the lightbulb turn on. When it comes to team culture, HOW seems to be an almost impossible question. Below is my short list of how to not only build the team culture you desire to be a part of but also how to sustain it. In the words of Jerry Seinfeld, “It’s one thing to TAKE a reservation, it’s a whole other thing to HOLD a reservation.” So let’s get practical on how to build and sustain the culture you’ve always wanted.
Actually care. This seems obvious but if you’re give-a-damn is busted, then this is a hopeless endeavor. Maybe you don’t care because it all seems like a lost cause, or you’ve been burned too many times by too many organizations claiming “healthy team culture”. Whatever the root cause of this attitude, if you truly have checked out and don’t care, this is a lost cause for you. You MUST genuinely care about your culture, others, and even yourself.
Caring about others is central to making this work. I’m not saying you have to like everyone you work with, but you do need to care about them genuinely. People can smell a fake a mile away and nothing kills culture faster than a fake.
Lastly, you must care enough about yourself. As John Maxwell says, "All great leaders have understood that their number one responsibility is cultivating their own discipline and personal growth. Those who cannot lead themselves cannot lead others.”Put in the work. Like anything worthwhile in life, this will take work. A LOT of work. This is not a set-it-and-forget-it type of project. This is a daily, full of intentionality in every environment type of project. If you reach the point in which you think you are working adequately at this, that is a key indicator that you are just getting started. Don’t stop. Press in. Face adversity head-on. It will be worth it.
Be patient. If I’m honest, this is the hardest part. None of us like to wait for the change we hope for, but this is a long play. Building a great team culture doesn’t happen overnight. Unless you’re part of a startup from day one, it will take time to reverse, correct, and train others in your environment in a “new normal.”
Ask better questions. Great leaders ask more questions than they make statements. There’s a reason this is true. Asking questions leads you to greater empathy. Greater empathy builds trust. Trust leads to a sustained, healthy team culture. Be a student of great questions. I highly recommend watching David Letterman’s “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction”, or my favorite sports journalist, Dan Patrick to learn how to ask better questions. Better questions lead to clearer answers.
Become a better listener. The other side of asking better questions is you actually have to shut up and listen. Not just pretend you’re listening while you’re thinking about what you’re going to say next. Actually active listening. This is a skill. Work on it every day. Practice on everyone. Then after a while, ask those around you if you’re a good listener. They’ll be eager to tell you what they really think.
There are multiple layers and complex moving parts in turning around a great titanic as big as your team culture. The above is not an exhaustive list, but it’s a great start.
Now get out there and make your team culture what you’ve always wanted it to be!