Ducks in a Row: Good Culture Equals Good MAP
by Miki Saxon
The research findings of Frederick Reichheld, founder of Bain & Company’s Loyalty Practice and author of Loyalty Rules! and other loyalty books, showed that a 5% improvement in employee retention translates to a 25%-100% gain in earnings.
For decades I’ve said that people who join a company for money will leave for more money, but those who join for the culture will usually stay as long as the culture is synergistic with their own values.
So when you set out to build a great working environment which comes first, culture or communication?
It’s a good question; one that seems similar to the chicken and the egg.
Without a culture that insists on, and supports, open, honest, complete communication it’s unlikely that people will indulge in it, but it takes that kind of communication to create and implement that kind of culture.
Which really comes first, culture or communications—or is it a conundrum? For that matter, who cares?
The answer is neither.
What does come first is the founder/CEO/department head/etc’s MAP (mindset, attitude, philosophy™). Because it’s what’s in your head that sets the culture and defines the kind of communications the your organization will have.
The way you communicate is a mindset, grounded in your attitude towards others, which, in turn, is based on your personal philosophy.
MAP is learned, not innate, it changes, either passively, through the influence of those around you, or dynamically, in ways that you consciously choose.
Good MAP, like good culture, is (in no particular order) authentic, positive, open, flexible, honest, secure, interested, enthusiastic, patient, sincere, trusting, encouraging, caring and loves creativity (its own or others).
MAP is everywhere and affects everything—which is why salespeople who understand their customers’ MAP sell more.
Managers are more successful when they understand their people’s MAP.
It’s to your advantage to understand your colleagues’ MAP, no matter your position or theirs.
Managers and candidates should understand each others’ MAP to be sure, at the least, they are synergistic.
While understanding other people’s MAP is important, it is absolutely vital is to understand your own.
Not only understand, but accept that while you can change your own MAP you cannot change theirs.
Flickr image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zedbee/103147140/
