Microculture

Musings 1 Minute

Have you ever felt helpless about the culture in your function or office? Wringing hands in frustration? Wondering what to do? Unable to shift it?

I was inspired to do otherwise by nature. This is the picture of my balcony, a tiny patch of green serenity, within the vast expanse of the densely populated Mumbai, a concrete jungle.

This 5 by 10 feet patch is my Elysium…. carefully nurtured by my husband over last few years. A green patch that attracts hummingbirds and weaver birds.

Can you see the connection with organization culture?

Many a times, we talk about the culture we wish to experience, at times we complain, sometimes we begin a small shift, but faced with obstacles, we soon drop our idea.

We wonder – how do I change my organization culture? It’s so large, what can I do?

Well, we may not be able to change the culture of the whole organization, but we can surely influence it in our direct & indirect team and the function (at the very least!) – this is our area of influence.

We can build a micro culture within the larger culture. For example, if I wish to experience an inclusive and empowering culture in my organization, within my area of influence, I can ensure that:
·     I listen to all ideas, everyone’s voice including contradictory points of view
·     I am vulnerable, encourage others to be the same
· Appreciate contributions and good work
·     Allow space for others to design and deliver their work
·     Provide continuous feedback
·     Be reflective and share learnings from my mistakes / failures
·     So many more…..

What I wish to experience is what I create – my small garden patch within the large organization! Imagine what would happen if every single leader built small patches of garden like this? How beautiful would the organization become?

Yes, systems and processes act as enablers or disablers. But I feel we end up giving them more power and importance than they deserve.

As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “be the change you wish to see in the world”. Question is “are we inspired and committed enough to create the culture we wish to experience?”

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Published by Padma Rajeswari

At the outset, I would like to thank you for stopping by my Blog. I believe that there is nothing right or wrong in this world. What’s right in this moment and context may be wrong in another moment and context. This belief has inspired me to name my blog ‘Perspectives’. Perspectives is a platform for me to share my experiences, thoughts and perspectives on various subjects. You may have a different point of view. I look forward to hearing them, these are the triggers for rich and deep conversations. On personal front, I live in Mumbai, India. I love to read; Somerset Maugham and Nevil Shute are my favorite authors. My favorite books are The Razor’s Edge, Mrs. Craddock, Chequer Board and Gone with the Wind. I am thankful to my father who inculcated the habit of reading in me early on. I am also passionate about traveling, I have been to most parts of India and to several countries across the globe. On professional front, I work in Human Resources function. Over two and half decades, I have worked across multiple industries and cultures. I focus on Leadership Development, Talent Management, Visioning and Culture, Large-scale change, Employee Listening & Engagement, Employee Well-being, Inclusive work culture, HR effectiveness, Behavior and Mind-set shifts through sustained interventions I currently lead Organization Effectiveness Function for Aditya Birla Group, a $44.3 billion conglomerate with 120000 employees across 35 countries. I sincerely hope that you will enjoy reading my blog. I look forward to your thoughts and suggestions. Thank you!

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