Alright, so I’ve been messing around with this whole “ovation culture” thing lately, and let me tell you, it’s been a bit of a journey. Here’s the lowdown on what I did and what I learned.
First off, I started by trying to figure out what our company values even were. Turns out, we had some stuff written down, but nobody really paid much attention to it. So, I gathered a bunch of folks from different teams, and we spent a few days really hammering out what we wanted our company to stand for. It was kind of intense, but we finally came up with a solid list we all felt good about.
Getting Everyone On Board
- Next, I focused on communication. I figured if we wanted people to actually live these values, we had to talk about them, like, a lot. So, I set up regular check-ins with different teams. Nothing too formal, just a chance to chat about how things were going and if people felt like we were sticking to our values.
- We also started doing these all-hands meetings every month. I used these to share stories about people who were really embodying our values. It wasn’t about singling anyone out, but more like, “Hey, look at this cool thing someone did that really shows what we’re all about.”
Keeping the Momentum Going
Now, this wasn’t a one-and-done deal. I knew we had to keep the conversation going. So, I made sure we had regular training sessions on our values. And not just boring lectures, but interactive stuff where people could actually practice what they were learning. Also, I encouraged everyone to give feedback, like, all the time. I wanted to know what was working and what wasn’t. We even set up a suggestion box, and I actually read every single one. Some of the ideas were pretty out there, but some were pure gold.
The Results
Honestly, it’s been a lot of work. But I gotta say, it’s been worth it. People seem happier, more engaged. And we’re actually seeing it in our numbers, too. We even started doing this thing where we recognized people who went above and beyond in living our values. It’s not a huge thing, just a shout-out in our company newsletter, but people really seem to appreciate it. I think this whole “ovation culture” thing might actually be sticking.
It ain’t perfect, and we’ve got a long way to go. But I feel like we’re on the right track. And hey, if I can do it, anyone can. Just gotta be willing to put in the time and effort, and really listen to what people are saying.
