Improving the performance of an organization requires improving the behavioural performance of all of its people at a cultural level. An organization cannot become what its people are not. Simply stated, conforming behaviours within a collaborative culture really matter. It is the difference maker for performance. A commitment to a collaborative culture requires system wide integration and continuous improvement in consistent behaviour-based performance.
Similar organizations may share a common mission and purpose, but they do not share the fundamental elements of performance: the talent and motivation of the people who work within any given organization. The core of any culture is behaviour—the “how we do it around here” principle common to any organization. While an organization’s culture can take years to change, individual behaviour can change far more quickly. All you have to do is decide it is worth it and know you can do it. Conforming behaviour then becomes a natural part of the daily work routine, and this new daily work routine transforms the culture.
The real power of a culture of collaborative behaviour is the capacity to bring people together to create something of greater value than any one person could have created alone. From the Manhattan Project to Disney animation, people have come together to create, innovate and enhance performance far beyond what any one individual could accomplish.
Bringing people together requires key behavioural skills to release the combined effect of their technical skills and talents. No two people are alike. No two people will behave the same in any given situation. But we can set the expectation and provide the training. We need to take the time to answer self-reflective questions, purposefully and intentionally, to assess our current behavioural strengths and weaknesses. When we choose to understand our own behaviour and the impact it has on those around us we can start to create the type of culture that will allow us to create and sustain highly effective relationships that drive organizational performance.
CORPORATE HARMONY is grateful to Dr. Michael E. Frisina for his contributions to this entry.
Catherine is the President and CEO of CORPORATE HARMONY, providing virtual solutions for leadership development and organizational culture change. Her leadership and coaching experience as a Project Manager in an ever-changing, fast moving technological organization with unrelenting demands drove her to the realization that a positive mindset and strength-building behaviors are essential for today’s complex and chaotic organizational systems. CORPORATE HARMONY’s virtual platform of programs, coaching and performance measurement, is an innovative online technology of tested proprietary content. The world-class content of CORPORATE HARMONY’s Positive Presence Program develops the skill of ‘Positive Presence’ and the necessary ‘Positive Presence Behaviour Competencies’ for maintaining a positive and energized mindset and increased performance in today’s complex work environment, and leading to a culture of collaboration and connection. Catherine’s vision for Corporate Harmony is to bring the skill of “Positive Presence” to the corporate world as it becomes more complex, ambiguous and chaotic. Catherine is uniquely positioned to impact organizations’ productivity and long term success, with her powerful vision of eliminating bad stress from every workplace around the globe, bringing purpose into the people equation to promote healthy, productive and meaningful work cultures and turn the tide on the neglect of mental health on a global scale. Catherine is author of the book: “CORPORATE HARMONY – The Performance Link for Today’s Modern Organization” Catherine can be reached at: Catherine.Osborne@corporateharmony.ca or go to ‘contact us’ on our website www.corporateharmony.ca. Catherine is available for consultation, and can be reached by 519-695-3407.