Workplace Culture Matters: Developing Leaders Who Respect People and Deliver Robust Results

This book addresses the challenge of changing a sick culture, where organizations become something they never intended, with employees running scared and no innovation. At the Charleston, SC, branch of Copper-Bottom Insurance, an employee files a lawsuit, and Vice President Jack Simmons is put on probation and given an ultimatum to change the culture. With the help of Don Spears from Friedman Electronics, Jack discovers that Copper-Bottoms executives are not showing their people respect. Don and Tim Stark, the Director of Continuous Improvement, teach Copper-Bottoms executives that a healthy culture begins at the leadership level. Jack learns to surround himself with the right people, the importance of top-down metrics, cascading metrics down through the organization, and using a dialog about them as a way of developing relationships of respect. By the end of Jacks six-month probation, Copper-Bottom has made significant strides and is well on its way to changing its culture.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 302 pages
Publication date: 22 December 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In a novel-like narrative, this book delves into the formidable challenge of transforming a sick culture within organizations. Some companies find themselves awakening to a reality they never envisioned, where their employees live in fear, innovation is stifled, and blind obedience reigns supreme. Within the ranks of management, power struggles emerge, with warlords vying for control, all without considering the best interests of customers, employees, or the organization as a whole.

At the Charleston, SC, branch of Copper-Bottom Insurance, the wake-up call comes when an employee files a lawsuit against the company and its leaders. The Charleston division Vice President, Jack Simmons, is placed on probation and given an ultimatum: change the culture or face termination. Jack understands the gravity of the situation and seeks help from an old friend, Don Spears, from Friedman Electronics. Together, they embark on a journey to heal the organization.

During their first visit, Don and his Director of Continuous Improvement, Tim Stark, assist Jack in making a crucial discovery: Copper-Bottom executives fail to show respect to their people. They highlight several observations as evidence of this lack of respect. Copper-Bottom leaders employ top-down, command-and-control leadership behaviors, disregarding the expertise and insights of their employees as Subject Matter Experts. Instead, they issue instructions and expect obedience, failing to recognize the potential for coaching and performance improvement. Employees are kept in the dark about the impact of their work on the organization's mission, leaving them feeling disconnected and unfulfilled. Leaders remain unaware of the obstacles their people face, failing to use their authority to remove those barriers. Instead, they retreat to their offices, maintaining a distance from the difficulties their subordinates encounter.

As Don and Tim perceive it, Copper-Bottom's culture is plagued by these issues, hindering its growth and success. They recognize the need for a transformative change that empowers employees, fosters innovation, and aligns with the organization's mission. With Jack's commitment and the support of Don and Tim, Copper-Bottom begins a journey toward cultural transformation.

Weight: 468g
Dimension: 152 x 230 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032372549