Two Ways To Maintain a Positive Culture When The Chips Are Down

Imagine the worst has happened. The credibility of your business is on the line. Social media is slamming your organization and you’ve lost goodwill with your customers. Morale is down. People are murmuring negative comments at every team meeting. You’re even wondering if maybe the time has come to call it quits.

Okay, so this example is pretty extreme, but you probably know what it feels like when the chips are down.

When times are hard, maintaining a positive culture can be difficult. How can leaders defy being dragged into negativity?

The answer is simple: you must let your cultural values guide you through the tough times.

People will feel more confident when your values are a main factor in the decision-making, especially when the situation looks bleak. For example, when Yum! was being formed, the executive team hired someone who ended up not being a good fit for their culture. The team had to decide between letting that person go, which would lead to a dive in stocks, or keeping him, and consequently communicating to their staff that culture wasn’t as important as they had claimed.

The executive team at Yum! chose culture, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions they ever made.

Another way you can maintain positive culture is to recognize people who are already doing the things you want to see more of. What are they doing right? Be specific. By recognizing those who bring value to your organization, you encourage others to do the same, and in effect, you promote your goals among the team in a positive way.

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