Let’s Start the “Freedom” Movement!

 

Why is my workplace so very miserable? I used to enjoy it but that has changed. I used to come to work and people would be smiling. They would greet you with a smile, wish you a good morning and even at times ask you to have lunch with them. At some point that all that went away.

Now people come to work without a discernable smile. They walk sluggishly to their work area and stay there until the day is done. At which time they grab their belongings and bolt for the door! People have become distant. They have become self-serving and untrusting. When they do talk to one another it is to complain about what the company’s leadership is doing now… Their latest atrocity or offense!

It’s often amazing how fast a workplace culture can change from positive to negative, from happy to sad, from committed to apathetic! When it does, we look for reasons why it changed. We look for people to blame and to identify the culprits. What we forget to do is to blame ourselves!

When toxic behaviors in the workplace culture begin to manifest, when leaders yell at employees or bullies first start or a negative decision affects others and we feel fortunate it is their burden to shoulder and not ours; we ourselves are taking part in the destruction of our workplace culture!

You see the workplace culture is made up and maintained by all employees. It is true that the tempo and direction is set by the leadership of the organization but just like our American Society, we the people have to let those that govern us do negative things in order for them to happen! We have the power to change it but we must be willing to be heard, when there is an injustice or decision that is detrimental to our organization. Whether it is a company or our country, if we stand by while others destroy the culture—we are just as guilty as they are!

 

 

We often do not want to have to fight or stand up to keep our workplace positive or to change it at all. We feel others (our leaders) should take that responsibility. The problem is when everyone does that then the entire staff is sitting by and watching the destruction of the culture! They see it changing and declining and all the while hoping someone else will step up and “do the right thing”! Unfortunately all too often everyone just stands and watches while the negativity spins out of control and then begins to abandon ship.

An organization may not be a democracy but it is a group of people with common goals working together to achieve those goals. In the United States, there are government oversight departments that guarantee that Americans are treated, if not good, at least decent. These rules that do exist only work when people stand up for themselves and others. For example, I have often seen organizations where employees  work 8 to 12 hours with no break or lunch at all. I have seen organizations where there are bosses that yell at their employees and even bully and harass them. Many times the individuals being abused are afraid to voice their pain for fear of termination. Why is it that all the people observing stand by and let it happen? Do they share in the guilt when they know it to be wrong yet say nothing?

In order for a company’s culture to be positive, harmonious, and highly productive it must be built on a positive foundation of appropriate and effective behaviors and activities. There must be a standard that provides a clear guide as to what is and what is not acceptable or in OUR best interests for that matter. That standard must then be adhered to and upheld by all in order for it to work and protect all!

 

 

At Team-builder Leadership Institute we teach people and organizations every day how to build and maintain that “Culture of Conscience”. A workplace environment where everyone is accountable and responsible and happy to enforce and maintain the behaviors and activities that keep the workplace happy, positive, and committed to the goals. After all, if everyone gets to choose their own version of “right” and “wrong” what does it create?…CHAOS! That’s why we as Americans have standards in our society and we are all responsible to uphold them. When we all leave it to someone else, it all falls apart!

To have a culture of conscience you have to have:

• An agreed upon set of acceptable behaviors and activities (a standard)
• A commitment from all parties to follow and enforce the standard
• The standard must ensure everyone is treated with dignity, respect and honesty

 

It’s time we put leaders back into leadership! People willing to commit to being responsible and accountable to ensure that everyone in the organization is treated with dignity, respect and honesty. It’s time we gave these leaders the standard to commit to that will guide their behaviors and decisions so they know what “the right thing” to do is. Making them figure it out on their own has not and will not work! Based on where we were born, when we were born and the culture we grew up in, we all have our own version of “right and wrong” and “good and bad”. To that end, everyone must use the actions and behaviors that are universally positive and accepted by people from all cultures in order to build a wining workplace culture!

As much as 70% of the American workforce are unhappy at work research shows. It’s not the work they are unhappy with but rather the people and the workplace cultures that allows and even perpetuates negative behaviors and treatment.

Let’s start a movement, we at Team-builder Leadership Institute call the “Freedom” movement! The movement is to give everyone a workplace that frees them to be happy, to be successful, and to feel they are appreciated at and belong to the group! Let’s free our workplace from negativity! Let’s make our work cultures a positive, harmonious and highly productive place to be! Let’s each of us make a difference and transform the American workplace! Together let’s ensure every workplace is a Culture of Conscience where everyone operates through conscious thought and reasoning focused on the goals and not individual personal agendas and individual’s negative emotions!

Join Team-builder Leadership Institute in providing Freedom to all organizations and employees. Let’s all make a difference! Help us spread the word and get the movement going! Let’s take our workplace back from those who would see us live day in and day out in negative oppressive work environments that serve only to create conflict and misery! Share the FREEDOM!