My last post dealt with workplace courtesy and respect as part of organizational culture.
It reminds me of the time when I was fairly new to the working world. I remember hearing whispered references about certain managers and the sympathy given to new staff assigned to them: “Too bad you have to work for that caustic s-o-b.”
This was the guy who would walk into the department without acknowledging anyone – no smile, no greeting – sharing only a scowl. Didn’t matter whether he passed one of his staff members, or a co-worker, or higher-up in the hallway (at least he was an equal opportunity s-o-b).
Maybe you’ve had the unfortunate experience to work with such a person, or know someone who has. So it should come as no surprise that research shows relationships with managers & co-workers impact overall job satisfaction.
The magic question
To assess the quality of your organization’s culture, all you need to do is ask one simple question: Would you refer a friend to work here? It’s a loaded question, to be sure, but one whose answer will give you incredible insight into your firm’s culture.
More coming up in my next post …