What does it mean to be happy at work and why does it matter?

In this episode I discuss the importance of employee happiness, distinguishing it from mere engagement, and explore where happiness is derived from: well-being, a growth mindset, and achievement.

I share insights on how organizations can foster a culture that values happiness, leading to increased productivity and reduced turnover. Let's also look at the role of leadership in creating an environment where employees feel motivated and fulfilled, ultimately contributing to both personal and organizational success.

What kind of culture do you have right now?

Take the free Five Cultures Quiz and find out.

Welcome to The AI Show! A special episode of Culture and Coffee where I use AI to talk about the role of AI in our work cultures and how we get things done.

I explore the evolving role of AI in the workplace, its potential benefits, and the importance of understanding and utilising AI effectively.

I also share my personal experiences with AI tools, and touch on the implications of AI for future employment and productivity, highlighting the necessity of curiosity and critical thinking when engaging with AI technologies.

I'd love to know what you think of this episode and how I used AI to create it.

Key takeaways

Subscribe to my newsletter, Making Great Work Happen, and score a digital swag bag of useful resources: www.colindellis.com/boom

In this episode of the Culture and Coffee Podcast, I'm exploring the various types of workplace cultures, emphasising the importance of emotional intelligence and engagement. I unpack the six pillars of culture, the characteristics of stagnant, pleasant, combatant, and toxic cultures, and the significance of building a vibrant culture for organisational success.

I encourage you to assess your own workplace culture through my free Five Cultures quiz and reflect on the actions needed to foster a positive environment.

Check out the quiz here - it only takes a few minutes to complete.

Key takeaways

There's a growing trend of employee tracking and monitoring. Let's explore the reasons behind these practices (including operational efficiency, security, and performance insights) and the negative cultural implications of such surveillance. I am advocating for a culture of trust and collaboration, suggesting that organizations should focus on educating managers and employees about the value of togetherness rather than resorting to invasive monitoring practices.

Connect with Colin:

⁠⁠⁠⁠www.colindellis.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Take the free Five Cultures Quiz:

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.colindellis.com/culture-quiz⁠⁠⁠⁠

Order DETOX YOUR CULTURE

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.co.uk/Detox-Your-Culture-Strengthen-Organizations/dp/1399414070

In this episode I discuss the pervasive issue of bullying in the workplace, highlighting alarming statistics from recent reports.

Let's get into what actually is bullying, how does it manifest and what's the impact in the workplace?

I also provide actionable strategies for addressing bullying, including documentation, assertive communication, and building support networks, while stressing the importance of a healthy workplace culture.

Episode takeaways:

Connect with Colin:

⁠⁠⁠www.colindellis.com⁠⁠⁠

Take the free Five Cultures Quiz:

⁠⁠⁠https://www.colindellis.com/culture-quiz⁠⁠⁠

Order DETOX YOUR CULTURE

⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.co.uk/Detox-Your-Culture-Strengthen-Organizations/dp/1399414070

In this episode of the Culture and Coffee podcast, I discuss the critical relationship between culture and strategy in organisations. I emphasis that while culture can overshadow strategy, effective strategy is essential for fostering a positive culture. I explore the characteristics of good strategy, the importance of clear communication, and the need for regular reviews to adapt to changing circumstances. I also highlight the role of culture in executing strategy and achieving success.

Connect with Colin:

⁠⁠www.colindellis.com⁠⁠

Take the free Five Cultures Quiz:

⁠⁠https://www.colindellis.com/culture-quiz⁠⁠

Order DETOX YOUR CULTURE

⁠⁠https://www.amazon.co.uk/Detox-Your-Culture-Strengthen-Organizations/dp/1399414070

We all make mistakes. Every team and organisation makes mistakes. We can learn from them but when we repeat them we're on a path to failure.

Take the alarming statistics surrounding project failures and digital transformation that we see year after year as fundamental mistakes are repeated. In this episode I outline three key themes that contribute to consistent failure: poor communication, inadequate planning, and a resistant culture. By way of a solution I'm advocating for proactive measures to document mistakes, clear expectations, and fostering a culture of learning and resilience.

Connect with Colin:

⁠www.colindellis.com⁠

Take the free Five Cultures Quiz:

⁠https://www.colindellis.com/culture-quiz⁠

Order DETOX YOUR CULTURE

⁠https://www.amazon.co.uk/Detox-Your-Culture-Strengthen-Organizations/dp/1399414070

Feedback is vital when you're building a culture of continual improvement. The common practice of organisations only seeking feedback once a year through engagement surveys and then doing little with the feedback or taking too long to act on it is counter-productive. It serves only to stagnate the culture and frustrate employees.

Leaders and managers need to take immediate action on feedback to build trust and confidence. In this episode I explore the two facets of feedback: employees providing feedback on the organisation and managers providing feedback to employees and look at how we can develop the skills to give both positive and negative feedback effectively.

Takeaways from this episode

Connect with Colin:

www.colindellis.com

Take the free Five Cultures Quiz:

https://www.colindellis.com/culture-quiz

Order DETOX YOUR CULTURE

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Detox-Your-Culture-Strengthen-Organizations/dp/1399414070

In this episode I discuss the importance of purpose in workplace culture. Purpose is often misunderstood and overlooked, but it is crucial for driving engagement and motivation in employees.

Let's look at the connection between an organisation's purpose and the individual sense of purpose that employees feel. I also provide some examples of purpose statements for companies around the world, and look at the negative impact of compromising or misunderstanding purpose especially in these times rising employee activism.

Takeaways include:

Timestamps

00:00 The Importance of Purpose in Workplace

03:24 How Purpose Shapes Culture and Decision-Making

09:41 The Negative Impact of Compromising Purpose

13:52 Purpose-Driven Work Projects Energy and Passion

17:09 The Rise of Employee Activism

Useful links 🔗

Connect with Colin on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Culture Whitepapers for managers and senior executives

Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Making Great Work Happen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ weekly newsletter

🎙️ Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inside Out Culture Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where myself and Cath Bishop get behind the headlines of cultures making the news to extract the learnings and insights, good and bad.

In this episode I discuss the three levels of toxic culture and the signs to look out for at each level. I also underline the importance of addressing toxic culture early to prevent it from becoming harmful.

What kind of culture do you have right now? Take the free Five Cultures Quiz and find out: www.fiveculturesquiz.com

06:14 Combatant Culture: Signs and Impact

13:21 Corrosive Culture: Bullying and Harassment

18:00 Harmful Culture: Physical Assault and Fraud

21:52 Importance of Assessing and Addressing Culture

Useful links 🔗

Connect with Colin on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Culture Whitepapers for managers and senior executives

Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Making Great Work Happen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ weekly newsletter

🎙️ Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inside Out Culture Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where myself and Cath Bishop get behind the headlines of cultures making the news to extract the learnings and insights, good and bad.