Introduction/Background:
Outside of a viable business model, “the single most important factor in organizational success” is workplace culture. Culture can be understood as the “fingerprint” or “personality” of an organization. It shapes behaviour, language, and social interaction, informing us as to what is acceptable and unacceptable, and how we should view, value, treat, talk to, and interact with one another. A collaborative (vs. controlling) culture is associated with the keys to workplace happiness, and workplace happiness – associated with lower rates of turnover, higher client loyalty, higher productivity, and higher profitability – leads to business success.   Although culture is socialized through relationships, relationships are based on conversations. Conversations, therefore, are what create, reveal, sustain, and change organizational culture. It is conversations characterized by openness, transparency, and authenticity; curiosity, listening, and acknowledgment; collaboration, inclusion, and empowerment; hope, positivity, and encouragement; and appreciation, care, and empathy that create the relationships – and resultant culture – that engender success. This session explores the kinds of conversations that will build a happy, healthy, and high-performing work culture – and bottom line: personal, professional, and organizational success.  

Objectives:
  1. To understand what workplace culture is, including the aspects that contribute to happiness and practice success.
  2. To start the kinds of conversations that build a happy, healthy, and high-performing workplace.
  3. To assume personal leadership to build such a culture, one conversation at a time.
Method: Facilitative presentation. For each focus (eg. openness, transparency, and authenticity), participants will discuss in groups and share. 

Implications:
Opportunity to reflect, learn from others, and choose to build a collaborative culture. 



Author:
STOEWEN, Debbie Pets Plus Us, Oakville, Canada