Summary

In this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, Scott McInnes speaks with Clare Duffield, Assistant Chief Officer for People and Organisational Development at the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). They discuss the importance of workplace culture, the challenges faced by policing globally, and the insights gained from a cultural audit conducted within PSNI. Clare shares the findings of the audit, highlighting both concerns and strengths within the organisation, and emphasises the need for trust, recognition, and support in fostering a positive culture. The conversation concludes with practical steps for implementing cultural change and the significance of connecting employees to the organisation's mission and purpose.

Takeaways

• Workplace culture is about the experience of employees.

• A clear mission and purpose are essential for organizational culture.

• Cultural audits can reveal both strengths and weaknesses.

• Trust and transparency are crucial for employee engagement.

• Recognition of achievements boosts morale and culture.

• Leadership visibility fosters trust within the organization.

• Cultural change requires time and commitment from leadership.

• Engaging employees in the change process is vital.

• Understanding the context of culture is important for effective change.

• Small, incremental changes can lead to significant improvements.

Sound Bites

• "Culture is what's it like to work here?"

• "We have to be able to give back."

• "Trust starts with human connection."

• "It's about the person behind the uniform."

• "One step at a time. Marginal gains."

• "We need to invest in the police service."

• "Focus on the why. Why does it exist?"

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

• 02:54 Understanding Workplace Culture

• 06:02 The Impact of Global Policing Challenges

• 08:56 Cultural Audit and Its Findings

• 11:48 Addressing Cultural Concerns

• 15:11 Positive Aspects of the Workforce

• 17:55 Building Trust and Support

• 20:49 Recognizing and Celebrating Achievements

• 23:45 Practical Steps for Cultural Change

• 27:02 Looking Forward: Implementing Change

• 29:58 Final Thoughts on Culture Change