In this episode, Karen Kirton explores how workplace culture evolves over time—sometimes in ways that leaders don’t recognize until problems arise. She discusses why culture can deteriorate, even in businesses that have always had a strong foundation, and how to maintain momentum by actively listening and responding to employees.

In today’s episode, you will learn about:

• Why workplace culture isn’t fixed and can change slowly over time—sometimes without leaders realizing it.
• Early warning signs of cultural dysfunction, such as unexpected resignations, stalled projects, declining customer retention, and disengagement.
• The importance of feedback loops, ensuring businesses continuously listen to employees and act on the information they receive.
• The impact of unspoken workplace norms, illustrated by the well-known "monkeys in a cage" experiment, and how behaviors can persist even when leadership changes.
• Key listening mechanisms that should be part of every internal communications plan, including: 
  • Engagement and satisfaction surveys, ensuring employees know their feedback is valued and acted upon.
  • First impression surveys, capturing insights from new employees after three months to understand their experience.
  • Roundtable discussions, where senior leaders gather candid feedback from employees they don’t interact with daily.
• Why failure to act on feedback leads to disengagement and the perception that providing input is pointless, reinforcing negative workplace habits.

This episode provides practical strategies for business leaders looking to proactively shape and sustain a healthy workplace culture, ensuring that small, unnoticed shifts don’t turn into long-term dysfunction.

Have you had trouble with your business culture? 

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We’d love your feedback on this series, just head on over to amplifyhr.com.au or connect with Karen on LinkedIn! 

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