Okay, let’s talk about “current culture.” This is something I’ve been digging into lately, and it’s been a real eye-opener. I started off just wanting to understand what makes my team tick, you know? Like, what’s the vibe in my workplace?
First thing I did was look around and really observe how people were interacting. Were they chatting and laughing, or was it all hush-hush and serious? I paid attention to how meetings were run – were they organized and efficient, or kind of chaotic and all over the place?
Here is what I did
- Observed interactions: Are people friendly or more reserved?
- Checked out the meeting style: Organized or a free-for-all?
- Noticed how decisions were made: Top-down, or do people have a say?
- Listened to the gossip: What are people really talking about?
Then I started asking around. I had casual chats with my colleagues, just to get a feel for what they thought about the place. I asked them what they liked, what they didn’t, and what they wished was different. I even threw together a quick survey – nothing fancy, just a few questions to get people’s opinions anonymously. It also gave me some insights into what people were really thinking. Like, were decisions being made at the top, or did everyone get a say?
After I did all that, I tried to find the pain points. It was like, all right, if we could make this place better, what would we change? It’s not about pointing fingers, just figuring out what could be improved.
Then I started noticing the little things. Like, what are people talking about when they think nobody’s listening? What’s the actual story behind the water cooler talk? I also paid attention to how people dressed, how they decorated their desks, and even what kind of slang they used. All these little details added up to paint a bigger picture of the culture.
After gathering all this info, I took a step back and looked at the big picture. What were the common themes? What were the patterns? What was working, and what wasn’t? And what does all this say about our culture, that is the current culture? It is a ongoing journey but it is one of the things I love to share and to experience.
