There’s a reason management guru Peter Drucker said that culture eats strategy for breakfast. We live in culture. We steep in it. It effects us in every single moment of our day and determines so much of how we behave without us even being aware of it.
When you bring Culture Cards into your business you’re giving everyone some of the most important key’s to working with each other in one of the simplest most cost-effective ways.
Culture Cards have two sides. A public and a private side. This is an example of the public side of a Culture Card.
The first thing it tells you is what I value, which in turn is the best way to connect with me. In this case it’s embodied presence, verbal appreciation and kindness. What’s the most important thing for someone to take into account when interacting with you?
The second thing it tells you is how and when I most like to be reached. In this case I prefer email or Skype and preferably between 3 and 6pm.
The third thing it shows you is how I think. Some people are visual, some are rational, some emotional. I have my own particular style and if we’re working together and you want to influence me, or have my buy-in for a project, or want to propose something, these are the most important things for me to know you are taking into account. When I hear you doing that I will immediately lean in.
The fourth thing is how I like to receive your communication. This is how best to engage me – playfully and to the point. If I also see you doing this then you’ll definitely have my attention.
Finally, I offer you my two most used Conflict Styles (these are simply examples): Accommodation followed by Flight. This tells you that in a heated moment I might begin simply agreeing with you simply because I don’t believe you’re open to hearing the truth. If you see this in me, then I offer you the best way for me to be brought out of it – by asking me directly: “what do you really think? It’s OK to be honest.” (For more information about working with Conflict Styles click here.)
In a busy office having this information available to all members allows everyone to quickly understand some of the most important information about you even before you’ve picked up the phone, composed an email or simply walked over to your desk. It clearly offers them some of your most valuable “hot” and “cold” buttons. What fires you up, what gets you excited and what to do when you’re under stress and in need of support. It provides them with whatever you want to reveal to help them support you in every interaction you have.
And then of course there’s the Private side of the culture cards that supports you.
If you’re interested in learning more about Culture Cards or implementing them for your team reach out to me at <zachary@zacharyfeder.com>. Equally if you get the idea and want to immediately implement your own version by all means be my guest.