Creating a Speak Up and Speak Out Workplace Culture
A study by Deloitte found that 70% of employees across a wide range of industries admitted to not speaking up about workplace issues that might compromise performance or safety.
One of the most important practices at Netflix, and one that has contributed to their
phenomenal growth and success, has been their insistence that everyone practice radical honesty and communicate in a timely fashion when it comes to serious issues.
Netflix understands that not providing honest feedback does a disservice to employees. Conversely, promoting open and honest communication is the main way to instill trust, help employees grow, and
uncover different ideas and perspectives that will help the company succeed.
Here are few things Netflix does to encourage honest, open communication, as detailed in the book Powerful, by Patty McCord:
Senior managers hold debates in front of employees on key issues to model how to
debate effectively, encourage curiosity about the business, and show that, no, you won't have to walk the plank if you speak uncomfortable truths.
Netflix makes it an unacceptable practice to ever speak about someone behind their back.
New employees are taught to speak up and ask questions: "If you don't ask questions, you won't get any answers."
Leaders admit when they are wrong about their perspective on an idea and explain why they changed their mind.
The
entire company practices a form of feedback known as "Start, Stop, Continue." Each person tells a colleague one thing they are doing really well that they should continue, one thing they should start doing, and one thing they should stop doing.
They encourage everyone to debate their case based on facts and evidence. As McCord points out, when anyone presents their case in a way that makes it clear they are thinking only of the good of the entire company and it is based on facts, not
ego, then people are far more open to your idea and more likely to listen! Asking questions such as, "How do you know that's true?" and "Can you help me understand why you believe that's true?" helps guide conversations in a healthy direction.
Mike's Fun at Work Tip
At a meeting or offsite retreat have everyone stand while a game officiator armed with a coin asks everyone whether the next flip of the coin is going to be heads or tails. Everyone votes by either putting their hands on top of their heads or on their backs. Everyone who guessed the wrong flip has to sit down until you have one person left standing who wins the coveted prize.
Quote of the Week
“It’s a terrible waste to be happy and not notice it.” Kurt Vonnegut
(Thank you Steve Sproule for passing this gem along!)
Funny Business
Arlington County, Virginia asked residents to come up with names for their snowplows and salting trucks, and they delivered:
Taylor Drift
Alex Snowvechkin
Elvis Plowsley
Frost and Flurrious
Melton John
Plow Force One
Cost-Saving Opportunities to Book Michael to Energize Your Workplace
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Regina: March 19-21
Ottawa March 25-29
Saskatoon: April 15-18
Small Moments, Big Outcomes: How Leaders Create Cultures That Fuel Extraordinary Results Small Moments, Big Outcomes.
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Culture Leadership Course
Here's the perfect way to ramp up your culture for 2025. Sign up as many team members as you can (amazing bulk discount rates are
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