This week I’ll be visiting Budapest, Hungary for the first time. As I prepare for the trip I find myself reflecting on the enormous culture shift that occurred as Hungary emerged from behind the iron curtain and back into the world of open ideas and culture. I cannot begin imagining what it was like living under oppression and what it feels like to step back into the light.
One of the most accessible definitions of `workplace culture’ is simply “the way we do things around here”. Recently a manager described to me the very poisonous work environment he was given to manage. In this unit, the culture was such that the majority of the unit’s employees were feeling oppressed by the actions and behaviours of a small number of their colleagues, who were consistently negative, blaming of the manager-of-the-day and making life uncomfortable for anyone who contributed an ounce more of what was required `by the book’. Not unlike those living behind the iron curtain, this silent majority felt no freedom to express themselves as able, trusting, joyful human beings; their spirit was crushed.
The manager who shared this with me was determined not to let this continue. He’s determined to change the culture and help his good people walk back into the light.
What’s the culture in your organization? Are you happy with the way `you do things around there’?
