Tony Schwartz discusses the challenges of performance cultures, the impact on employees and challenges to sustaining success. Instead he advocates a growth culture that blends individual and organizational components:
- An environment that feels safe, fueled first by top by leaders willing to demonstrate vulnerability and take personal responsibility for their shortcomings and missteps.
- A focus on continuous learning through inquiry, curiosity and transparency, in place of judgment, certainty and self-protection.
- Time-limited, manageable experiments with new behaviors in order to test our unconscious assumption that changing the status quo is dangerous and likely to have negative consequences.
- Continuous feedback – up, down and across the organization – grounded in a shared commitment to helping each other grow and get better.
Source: Harvard Business Review, March 7, 2018.
Perhaps the most fundamental lesson we’ve learned is that fueling growth requires a delicate balance between challenging and nurturing. Think about a young child beginning to venture into the world. The infant crawls away from its mother to explore the environment, but frequently looks back and returns periodically in order to feel reassured and comforted. We are not so different as adults.
INSIGHTS: I believe growth cultures are critical to the successful assimilation of late millennials and Generation Z employees. When we posted Get ready for Gen Z, in January, I offered these insights re: Gen Z, “. . . We must train them, stretch them and teach them problem-solving and soft skills, such as writing and interpersonal skills. They will need help with self-evaluation, professionalism, time management, keeping a positive attitude and maintaining high productivity levels.” It will take growth cultures to develop these persons.
This is great Kirk! I have to leave a comment, as what you’re contributing to the profession resonates with me. Even when I get behind with my e-mails — like right now, trying to catch up on Good Friday! — I never simply file the Animal Health Digest, as I do with other CE offerings, as I never want to miss a resource. You always bring in such a range of topics that there’s at least one that I find incredibly valuable. Thank you for all you’re doing. I can’t imagine that it doesn’t influence our profession — and in good ways :). It is appreciated.