COLIN ON CULTURE
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Grey hair, golden outputs
Forward-thinking companies implement age-friendly programmes, recognising the value older employees can add
The Farmers Market
Culture isn’t something that’s written in stone, it's driven by social consensus and can be changed at any time.
On-demand and in-demand
When we are constantly on-demand we lose the time to focus on work that matters
The Dark Triad Toxic Leaders
Exposing the harm of narcissistic, psychopathic, and Machiavellian traits in the workplace
The Middle Management Crisis
Almost under performing culture that I work with has one thing in common, a crisis in middle management. And yet, middle managers themselves, are often not to blame for this situation, despite being an easy target.
Friendships at work are optional
Friendships can greatly benefit teamwork, but respecting each other is more important
Red Tape
Needless bureaucracy harms workplace culture and lowers employee morale
Defined vs. Undefined
Consistent high-performance begins with a clearly defined culture that empowers teams and drives success.
Beware the blame throwers
When workplace cultures turn toxic, be on the lookout for those who throw blame around.
These individuals, who deflect responsibility and point the finger at colleagues for failures, are among the most destructive forces in any organisation's culture. They systematically undermine the psychological safety, collaboration and creativity that high-performing teams need to thrive.
How to listen empathetically
Active listening is a powerful skill that fosters connection, trust, and respect by focusing on understanding rather than just responding.
Things Don't Always Get Better
Middle-aged men often hide their struggles behind the phrase, "Things can only get better," but the truth is, real change requires vulnerability and seeking help. Your well-being matters—don’t suffer in silence.
Beyond National Food Days
Celebrating diversity with food is just the beginning. True cultural empathy involves understanding the stories, values, and communication styles that shape your colleagues. Let’s dive deeper to build stronger, more empathetic teams.
Another Way
Someone recently said, "Everything is negative these days." I disagreed. While negativity is everywhere, we become what we consume
Pranks
April Fools' Day is all about fun and pranks, but are they suitable for the workplace?
The things vibrant cultures do (that you can copy)
Listen and be inspired by what organisations with vibrant cultures do and you can too!
Leading on and off the field
Sports is starting to take culture seriously and if teams want to see sustained performance it’s important that more follow St Helens’ lead.
It’ll never be us
Toxic culture is every organisation’s biggest risk. Toxic cultures harm humans, results and reputations. But they are preventable.
Anomie
Anomie is ‘a lack of rules’ and it's the silent killer of great work. It's what happens when nobody knows which standards matter anymore.
Truth without the thorns
Lose the jargon and communicate with directness because when your team know where they stand they feel safer.
Laughter
Life can be a pretty serious business so take the opportunity to lean in to laughter. It’s good for you!