The recent economic boom in Kenya has taken its toll on more than just the corporate bottom line. It has also had a significant impact on the employment scenario and the work environment, as companies battle it out to retain employees. Some employees are left wondering what happened to the organizations they originally joined or even worse, most employees never really figure out what kind of organization it is that they are a part of. As Kenyan companies grow in size and become important players in the global market place, the very essence of these companies - its culture, is becoming of profound importance in order to maintain a competitive edge.
Employees are now looking for something better and more fulfilling in their lives and at work. As the battle for talent begins to heat up, it is more essential than ever for companies to provide employees with a strong and open corporate culture, and a meaningful work experience with a nurturing day-to-day work environment.
Although it surrounds us, corporate culture is hard to define. Simply stated, it is the glue that holds a company together through good times and bad. What is corporate culture? At its most basic, it's described as the personality of an organization, or simply as "how things are done around here." It guides how employees think, act, and feel. Corporate culture is a broad term used to define the unique personality or character of a particular company or organization, and includes such elements as core values and beliefs, corporate ethics, and rules of behavior. Corporate culture can be expressed in the company's mission statement and other communications, in the architectural style or interior decor of offices, by what people wear to work, by how people address each other, and in the titles given to various employees.
A strong corporate culture should be able to align an entire organization around a shared set of goals and objectives, while at the same time empowering employees to make decisions in their areas of responsibility.
A corporate culture should also reflect shared principles and values among all employees, from the bottom to the top of the corporate ladder. These values should remain constant and be recognized as being at the heart of the organization.
The importance of a company culture should not be overlooked. A good corporate culture goes a long way toward attracting the very best people and retaining that top talent. One outcome that has been quantified, in fact, is employee loyalty; turnover rates at companies with strong cultures are usually significantly lower than the industry average.
The core values of corporate culture remain constant. But it's important to recognize that for any organization to excel and survive in business today, systems, structures, styles and business practices must adapt -- often quickly -- to shifting business needs. Change is always over the horizon, and it is exciting as well as challenging. In fact, the ability to change when necessary is a key element of a strong and lasting company.
Managing Corporate Culture
Because corporate culture is based on taken-for-granted assumptions and beliefs, it can be an elusive concept. There may not be a single culture, but a number of cultures spread throughout the organization, and this does not make managing the corporate culture easier. There is no such thing as a "good" or "bad" culture, but only cultures that are appropriate or inappropriate.
The strength of culture clearly influences its impact on corporate behaviour. Strong cultures have more widely-shared and more clearly expressed beliefs and values than do weak ones. These values will probably have been developed over a considerable period of time and they will be perceived as functional in the sense that they help the organization achieve its purpose.
Culture is learned. Schein (1983) suggests that it is learned in two ways. First, there is the trauma model, in which members of the organization learn to cope using defense mechanisms. Second, there is the "positive reinforcement" model, where things that work become embedded and entrenched. Learning takes place as people adapt to and cope with external pressures, and as they develop successful approaches to carrying out organizational goals. The nature of those goals largely determines the way it goes about its business, and this in turn affects the way the corporate culture develops and is manifested within the organization. Against this background, organizational members, with the values, philosophy, beliefs, assumptions, and norms of top management playing a dominant role, create corporate culture.
According to Armstrong (1991) approaches to managing corporate culture and achieving cultural change in the workplace are:
● Reorganization to facilitate integration, to create departments or jobs which are responsible for new activities or to eliminate unnecessary layers of management.
● Organizational development to help the organization respond to change.
● Communication to get the message across
• Increase the identification of staff with the firm and therefore enhance their commitment. This could be done easily by creating a website with staff pictures, departments, and job titles.
• Provide the opportunity for all levels of staff to become more involved in the organization's affairs. Participatory management will help to improve the corporate culture. The sense of belonging will result in the increase in staff productivity and hence firm efficiency.
• Generate ideas from staff to develop the business, improve the levels of customer service, and increase productivity.
• Training can help form new attitudes about customer service, quality, managing and motivating people, or productivity; to increase commitment to the firm and its values; to review and challenge assumptions, and to improve skills or teach new skills.
• Recruitment of new employees to fit the desired culture or to reinforce the existing culture.
• Performance management to ensure that managers, supervisors, and staff are aware of their objectives and are assessed on results, and that performance improvement programmes consisting of self-development, coaching, counseling, and training are used to capitalize on strengths or overcome weaknesses.
• Reward management to enhance the cultural assumption that rewards should be related to achievement.
Corporate culture doesn't just happen. Making it work takes time and effort and a great deal of communication. Managers and executives must demonstrate commitment at every level of the organization to a positive, open and caring corporate culture. Taking the time to listen to employees, understand their needs and concerns, and then address them in our work environment will go a long way to help ensure the long-term viability of our business.
Oct 12, 2007
PROFESSIONALISM AT WORK- WHAT IT TAKES
It's sometimes difficult to identify the true meaning of "professionalism." Many individuals use professionalism as a facade to cover their lack ability to perform their job effectively. Others use it to for intimidation to gain power. Still others use it as a way to impress the unknowing. However, it seems that very few individuals use it for its original intent---to provide a foundation for effective communications and efficient performance.
During one of my recent weekly group emails, I decided to touch on an issue that often frustrates us at work and a word we use so often. What exactly does ‘being professional’ or professionalism mean? And I got varied answers. This got me thinking more. What defines professionalism in a work place?
“Keep your emotional and private life to yourself. Volunteer to do more then what you are paid for. Get a rhinoceros hide to petty people in the work place. Your attitude will open more doors for you or allow you to get a good referral if you have to leave your job”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Professionalism is a work practice or culture enforced throughout an organization whereby all the processes/procedures are implemented and practiced to achieve effectiveness/efficiency thereby delivering '' A'' class service to customers/clients and hence creating a ‘feel good factor ‘about the organization in the customers”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“It simply means operate by the book/company rules/policies! And be SMART”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Professionalism at work? Well it depends on the environment, the country and the culture. It’s a bit like driving; no matter how safely you drive, someone else might be reckless and cause lots of damage. Similarly, at work it all depends on the organization’s culture. If you try and be professional in a laid back place you are not going to be in anyone's good books and your job security will not be so bright; bosses like to keep 'yes sir’ people close to them. In such a place, if you are professional then you will be deemed to be cold, and won't get too many invites for drinks etc”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Professionalism has many levels and is handled many different ways. You might find that what one person sees as being professional, another would see otherwise. This can cause considerable confusion for someone trying to define professionalism in their own career.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The answers varied, but it became evident that the challenges that we all face at some point are not in our ability to handle our job, but in our lack of a definitive understanding of professionalism in their workplace. Nevertheless, the core definition of professionalism is always the same and will hardly change from firm to firm or country to country.
What is "Professionalism"?
Power lunches and golfing with associates has little to do with the definition of professionalism. Extracurricular activities are great for networking; however, they are also situations in which individuals make their greatest mistake: trusting the situation and letting down their professional facade. Your emotional self begins to rise to the surface and you immediately alter the playing field against yourself.
Drinking with the boss has absolutely nothing to do with the definition of professionalism. While it is possible to get into the "inner circle" this way, I have seen careers come crashing down over a single beer because the boss was able to use the alcohol as a way to find "the real you" beneath the business-shield. You begin to relax and eventually your professional being takes a hike.
Business suits do not define professionalism; however, the professional situation defines which clothes you should wear. Whether it is casual day or formal day in your office, you must dress to look your part. How you look demonstrates how you feel and will define how people see your professional being, inside and out.
So, what is professionalism if it's not power lunches, golf, drinking with the boss, and business suits? A general, raw view of professionalism is, "a focused, accountable, confident, competent, motivation toward a particular goal, with respect for hierarchy and humanity, less the emotion." What this means is that you leave out the outbursts and emotional thralls that accompany stressful situations and success. You maintain focus, with a sense of urgency, and accept responsibility on a path toward a specific goal. In the process, you maintain respect for your superiors, peers, and subordinates as well as respect them as human beings.
Handling Professional Situations
The advantage to dealing with professional situations without emotion, and base business-related interactions on intellect, industry, and experience, is that it provides a common foundation from which professional relationships can flourish. Emotion varies wildly between individuals; however, competency in a particular field provides a basis of understanding. From this basis, everyone can function and exercise their power on the same playing field.
Understand that a business situation has a purpose and a goal. Jocularity and emotional responses have no place in such a situation because it takes away from the time spent moving toward that goal. By including such emotion into a professional relationship can make others, who are focused on their direction, see you as someone that doesn't take their position seriously. I am not saying that a sense of humor is not acceptable, but it can sometimes get you labeled as someone who is not a "team player," among other things.
The point to realize is that, if a professional situation seems to be turning against you, maybe you are not behaving in a professional manner.
Are you unprofessional?
Most people feel that professionalism is a subjective term based on a hidden set of standards. Many companies use these standards to criticize you if they don't like you, and to praise you otherwise.
One can justifiably be seen as unprofessional if you have not taken the time to understand your corporate culture and learn the "hidden standards." Corporate culture plays a considerable role into the idea of professionalism. You have to learn how to maintain your level of raw professionalism and, once you learn the corporate culture, add the new expectations to your professional facade.
In summary, professionalism can be measured using the following indicators:
Responsiveness as the golden rule: Giving timely feedback and positive criticism is crucial in enhancing communication
Organization and time management
Email/voicemail best practices
Importance of planning and adhering to the plan
Problem solving attitudes
Manners matter
Integrity always
Impact communications
Presentation development
Dressing appropriately
Speaking politely and courteously
Performing your job duties to the best of your ability
Arriving and leaving at the designated times
Not abusing sick and vacation time
Leaving personal life at home
During one of my recent weekly group emails, I decided to touch on an issue that often frustrates us at work and a word we use so often. What exactly does ‘being professional’ or professionalism mean? And I got varied answers. This got me thinking more. What defines professionalism in a work place?
“Keep your emotional and private life to yourself. Volunteer to do more then what you are paid for. Get a rhinoceros hide to petty people in the work place. Your attitude will open more doors for you or allow you to get a good referral if you have to leave your job”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Professionalism is a work practice or culture enforced throughout an organization whereby all the processes/procedures are implemented and practiced to achieve effectiveness/efficiency thereby delivering '' A'' class service to customers/clients and hence creating a ‘feel good factor ‘about the organization in the customers”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“It simply means operate by the book/company rules/policies! And be SMART”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Professionalism at work? Well it depends on the environment, the country and the culture. It’s a bit like driving; no matter how safely you drive, someone else might be reckless and cause lots of damage. Similarly, at work it all depends on the organization’s culture. If you try and be professional in a laid back place you are not going to be in anyone's good books and your job security will not be so bright; bosses like to keep 'yes sir’ people close to them. In such a place, if you are professional then you will be deemed to be cold, and won't get too many invites for drinks etc”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Professionalism has many levels and is handled many different ways. You might find that what one person sees as being professional, another would see otherwise. This can cause considerable confusion for someone trying to define professionalism in their own career.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The answers varied, but it became evident that the challenges that we all face at some point are not in our ability to handle our job, but in our lack of a definitive understanding of professionalism in their workplace. Nevertheless, the core definition of professionalism is always the same and will hardly change from firm to firm or country to country.
What is "Professionalism"?
Power lunches and golfing with associates has little to do with the definition of professionalism. Extracurricular activities are great for networking; however, they are also situations in which individuals make their greatest mistake: trusting the situation and letting down their professional facade. Your emotional self begins to rise to the surface and you immediately alter the playing field against yourself.
Drinking with the boss has absolutely nothing to do with the definition of professionalism. While it is possible to get into the "inner circle" this way, I have seen careers come crashing down over a single beer because the boss was able to use the alcohol as a way to find "the real you" beneath the business-shield. You begin to relax and eventually your professional being takes a hike.
Business suits do not define professionalism; however, the professional situation defines which clothes you should wear. Whether it is casual day or formal day in your office, you must dress to look your part. How you look demonstrates how you feel and will define how people see your professional being, inside and out.
So, what is professionalism if it's not power lunches, golf, drinking with the boss, and business suits? A general, raw view of professionalism is, "a focused, accountable, confident, competent, motivation toward a particular goal, with respect for hierarchy and humanity, less the emotion." What this means is that you leave out the outbursts and emotional thralls that accompany stressful situations and success. You maintain focus, with a sense of urgency, and accept responsibility on a path toward a specific goal. In the process, you maintain respect for your superiors, peers, and subordinates as well as respect them as human beings.
Handling Professional Situations
The advantage to dealing with professional situations without emotion, and base business-related interactions on intellect, industry, and experience, is that it provides a common foundation from which professional relationships can flourish. Emotion varies wildly between individuals; however, competency in a particular field provides a basis of understanding. From this basis, everyone can function and exercise their power on the same playing field.
Understand that a business situation has a purpose and a goal. Jocularity and emotional responses have no place in such a situation because it takes away from the time spent moving toward that goal. By including such emotion into a professional relationship can make others, who are focused on their direction, see you as someone that doesn't take their position seriously. I am not saying that a sense of humor is not acceptable, but it can sometimes get you labeled as someone who is not a "team player," among other things.
The point to realize is that, if a professional situation seems to be turning against you, maybe you are not behaving in a professional manner.
Are you unprofessional?
Most people feel that professionalism is a subjective term based on a hidden set of standards. Many companies use these standards to criticize you if they don't like you, and to praise you otherwise.
One can justifiably be seen as unprofessional if you have not taken the time to understand your corporate culture and learn the "hidden standards." Corporate culture plays a considerable role into the idea of professionalism. You have to learn how to maintain your level of raw professionalism and, once you learn the corporate culture, add the new expectations to your professional facade.
In summary, professionalism can be measured using the following indicators:
Responsiveness as the golden rule: Giving timely feedback and positive criticism is crucial in enhancing communication
Organization and time management
Email/voicemail best practices
Importance of planning and adhering to the plan
Problem solving attitudes
Manners matter
Integrity always
Impact communications
Presentation development
Dressing appropriately
Speaking politely and courteously
Performing your job duties to the best of your ability
Arriving and leaving at the designated times
Not abusing sick and vacation time
Leaving personal life at home
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