first to acknowledge it . Those are two powerful outcomes from having a strong culture .
That ’ s what a great culture does . It attracts and engages great people who want to work with other great people . Even if they are seasonal . Even if they are parttime . Even if they are ( gasp ) young people .
As I ’ ve written before , your team culture will be whatever you consistently demonstrate , celebrate and tolerate . We ’ ve been going to both Mac ’ s for several years . And it ’ s always the same excellence . Regardless if different people are there . That ’ s culture .
No one has their cell phones out ! Not one employee . Huh ? Listen carefully : Standards are powerful when you are serious about them being standards . And just so you know , having high standards and adhering to them can be a part of your culture also .
Your team can be KNOWN for that . You can be a cultural outlier … like Mac ’ s . People ( especially young people ) want to work in organizations that are known for strong cultures .
I have a feeling that if a team member “ acted up ,” the co-worker would be the first to address it . If a team member does something well , the co-worker would be the
Now , on to MOM ’ s Like Mac ’ s , MOM ’ s Organic Market is a cultural outlier . Here are some of the specific tactics they use that all organizations can emulate : l The staff is knowledgeable : There ’ s something to be said for competency . If I ask any employee about any product in the store , they either know the answer or find out . One time , I was in the store looking at pineapples and there was a sign close by about bromelain . When I inquired about it , the employee ( in his late teens ) stocking the fruits and vegetables happily told me what it was , where it ’ s found and why it ’ s beneficial .
On another trip , I inquired about the different grades of maple syrup , and the team member politely excused herself to find out . She came back within a few minutes , found me in an aisle and told me about the grades of syrup and the best use for each one .
Simply put , everyone is willing and capable to do everything . I have a feeling an employee would be banished if they ever uttered the words “ I don ’ t know ” or “ It ’ s not my job .”
TAKEAWAY : Don ’ t let job titles or department names get in the way of learning as much as you can about where you work .
l They look out for me : No one likes to feel like they are a transaction . As a customer , I want to feel like you care about me , and not just the money I am spending . On
“ That ’ s what a great culture does . It attracts and engages great people who want to work with other great people .”
SEPTEMBER 2024 n PULSE 35