Using training to create and sustain organizational culture/values

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Written by Adebayo Adekola - bayus007@yahoo.com


 


We are all familiar with the numerous workplace culture like team spirit, customer service, innovation but do we realize that training can be designed to create and sustain the desired culture. A one-time event will not create a culture but a series of targeted trainings along with effective communication across all levels can create the desired culture or display of these values. I will use culture and value interchangeably.

How do we use training to create a culture?
  • Identify the desired culture e.g. team spirit; customer service, creativity, work-life balance
  • What is the current state or the perceived view about this values? You need to carry out a survey or focused group discussion to gain insight into the current state
  • What are the hindrances to exemplifying the desired culture or values?
  • Does the leadership portray these values? In tackling this change in culture, start from the leadership. What do the people see from them? Are they paying lip service to the values and only concerned about the money alone? Are they encouraging the values in the work place?
For example,
  •  If you give credit to a single person alone after doing a good job knowing fully that the job was carried out in a team and everyone contributed. You discourage team spirit. 
  • If you give preference to the way your acquaintances are treated compared to a normal everyday person, you discouraged customer service.
  • If new ideas for improvement are quickly dismissed at the weekly meetings, you discourage creativity of any form.
  • If you preach work-life balance but you encourage working late, you are only paying lip service.
  • If you play favouritism, you discourage team spirit.
  • If there is an atmosphere of fear, you discourage openness needed for creative brainstorming.
We don't realize how these behaviours hinder the right culture or values in our organisations.


How training helps?

1. Train the leaders first and hold them accountable for the sustenance of the value or culture.

2. Every training solution should encourage these values. One question to ask with every training activity: how can I teach these values in this training? What can be done? 
  • You can teach a technical subject but encourage team work by participation in small group discussion or combined completion of a task in groups. 
  • You can also encourage customer service by the use of proper language and respect for each other during training. 
  • You can encourage creativity by being open to ideas through brainstorming and putting it up as a list of suggestions. 
3. It is important to emphasize work place application of these values. Get the participants to think of how they can exemplify the values in the work place? Create that environment throughout the training.

4. After training,  target communication materials and tools towards the value we want to see. 
  • Have champions in each team aside from the manager 
  • Display it in the work place
  • Speak about it 
  • Create a day or week or month to showcase these value in targeted programmes  e.g. customer service week
  • Reward and celebrate staff who display such values
  • Measure and discuss in performance appraisal
  • Incorporate in on-boarding programmes
  • and most importantly never stop communicating.


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