Would you feed and water a plant just once?
Looking after your plants - understanding and tending to their needs, and nurturing the right environment - helps them flourish.
It seems odd that organisations don't always take this approach with their greatest asset.
Onboard. Induct. Leave to perform.
Limited (or no) further investment, training or reviews of the environment or culture; no challenging of ineffective processes and policies.
And we're then surprised when they wilt.
Engagement and culture aren't about one-off grandiose activities, such bonuses, a new site opening or pyjama day.
It's about tending to and cultivating the environment and people.
IMO, that tending and nurturing is the core role of a leader.
Looking after your plants - understanding and tending to their needs, and nurturing the right environment - helps them flourish.
It seems odd that organisations don't always take this approach with their greatest asset.
Onboard. Induct. Leave to perform.
Limited (or no) further investment, training or reviews of the environment or culture; no challenging of ineffective processes and policies.
And we're then surprised when they wilt.
Engagement and culture aren't about one-off grandiose activities, such bonuses, a new site opening or pyjama day.
It's about tending to and cultivating the environment and people.
IMO, that tending and nurturing is the core role of a leader.
Employees development/growth, from the research I've seen, is one of the motivators, especially amongst the younger generations, for staying with a company, and thus helping the company grow too.
You could also use the same analogy for the culture of the business, when referring to the eradication of the harmful weeds that can turn things toxic!
And yes, I do believe that there are such things as toxic cultures - which can arise through the actions of the leadership (gardener) or individual/groups of negatively disruptive employees (the weeds) :)