Of bees and dragonflies - Part 2: A cultural start

Attracting bees

As I sat watching the bees in the garden, I noticed that they were attracted to particular flowers. So my curiosity was piqued, and I decided to do some research.  The research is pretty vague, but I learned that bees are attracted to open or tubular flowers with lots of pollen and nectar. Colours and scents may also be part of the attraction.So what does this mean to you and your organisation? And more importantly who are you trying to attract to the business?Think about the culture you have created in your organisation that incorporates all the design elements to try and attract the worker bees. The big question now is whether the organisation you have created or designed attracts other insects to the garden, not just the bees.

The culture of an organisation globally

Moving away from the garden analogy, and into the company and organisation, we need to look at the culture of the organisation. I have been doing extensive global research into culture, and cultural challenges that companies are facing.The most surprising result is the intersectionality between companies across continents. The intersectionality goes beyond the continents. I find that there are many individual specific cultural concerns that companies face that are unique to their circumstance. Or at least that is the view of the team in that company.One of the most gratifying and interesting aspects of developing culture is that everyone who has contributed to the research so far, acknowledges the importance of culture in building the company of the future.

The culture is set from the top

I often quote from TV shows that I watch in the background while writing blogs and articles.  Watching an episode of the show “Billions” on the plane today something was said about culture. One of the employees who is pretty outside the typical white male dog-eat-dog corporate culture, comments to the company therapist that “the culture is set from the top”. Taylor goes on to say “because Axe (the boss) likes me, other people like me”.In a subsequent episode, whilst planning a milestone party Axe is heard to say “they are not my friends – they work for me”That is an interesting take on the development of culture.  The inherent implication is that this idea of culture being driven from the top is the only way to develop a culture. It is critically important and emphasised by the fact that all the people that I have interviewed over the years believe that the direction being driven by the top level is part of the solution.

Management as designers

The top management are the gardeners, the garden designers and landscapers. They need to have a design, or a vision of what they want the garden to look like. If they don’t have a vision, they need to find the designers to come in with the structures and strategies to design the garden. They then become the landscapers and do the manual labour to take the design to build the garden - a garden that attracts the bees and the dragonflies.For all our married life, Rafi has been the designer of our gardens, in fact when in South Africa, she ran a small business called “Gardens by Rafaella”. For all the time we have been in Australia I have been a provider of labour for these garden projects.

Gardening improves infrastructure

On a Sunday night when I complain about the sore muscles I realize that by taking myself out of my comfort zone and doing the physical labor we have achieved a new and better infrastructure.  We have created what would be a better infrastructure.But I realise that my pleasure despite the sore muscles, is around being able to see the better, improved infrastructure. But in my heart I know that we have created something that will attract the bees and the dragonflies.We have created something that we are proud of, a place that we believe will flourish and grow.In the same way, in all my companies over the last 30 years have been developed as places where I hope that employees have enjoyed being part of a team. Places where my teams have enjoyed the highs and lows. Places where the teams embrace the culture and make it their own. Places where the team take losses personally and celebrate wins together.In the next few blogs, I will be exploring more on the subject of creating alive and healthy workplaces and attracting those who want to be there.Till next time.

I finish every blog with “why am I writing this?”

The answer is BECAUSE –

• Because I want to share the ideas, stories, anecdotes and business tips and traps.
• Because I want to pay it forward.
• Because I want to help people grow their businesses.
• Because I want managers to become better managers.
• Because I believe that I can “Give your business the EDGE”

If you would like to explore the variety of business building workshops, keynote addresses or business consulting and coaching as an option for your company or organisation, please email me at rael@bricker.com.au or call +61 408 600 330