Such a great group! We gathered virtually to discuss Conscious Culture, one of the four pillars of Conscious Capitalism. Joined by a panel of local business leaders, we talked about positive business cultures and how to obtain them. We thank our sponsors SOBAR, IntelliGenesis, and The Wendy Slaughter Team at Elevate Real Estate Brokerage, along with strategic partner 1776, for supporting the evening’s events.
Our world has changed drastically in the last six months due to the coronavirus pandemic and it has impacted the way our businesses function. Panelists Eboni Adams Monk, from W. R. Grace, Ashlee Eggleston, with IntelliGenesis, and Kimberly Prescott, owner of Prescott HR, provided honest, real-world examples of their (and their clients’) corporate cultures—how they were developed and how they adapted to changes in the post-pandemic world.
These business leaders are passionate about business culture and their communities both in and out of the workplace.
Company culture is an integral part of business. It affects nearly every aspect of a business operations. From recruiting top talent to improving employee satisfaction, culture is the backbone of a happy, successful team. Employees are the ones who convey the company culture and as Ms. Monk explained, “Culture isn’t what you say it is – but rather culture is the experience people are having.”
Pre-COVID, Ms. Eggleston said that IntelliGenesis, a woman- and veteran-owned information technology company, held many gatherings and activities to develop and build their corporate culture. They sponsored large corporate functions, quarterly meetings, and special vacations to celebrate employee togetherness and work-life balance.
Now that the world is shrouded in masks and social distancing, it is more difficult to gather in person, of course. Our business leaders have found that employees need extra support to work-at-home through IT/Zoom learning and support for their school-aged children who are engaged in on-line learning at home.
Businesses have required a cultural shift to be more flexible. Work productivity must be measured differently – there’s much less emphasis on how and when, and more on completing by the due date and serving the customer well.
Communication in our new world is critical. Frequent and more detailed discussions are necessary since the random “water cooler” chats don’t occur anymore. Zoom, Teams, and WebEx are becoming everyday terms. Company executives are sending video messages and making podcasts to inform employees. New ways of connecting to bring teams closer together are being normalized.
Some companies have kept employees engaged during the quarantine by providing internal training, virtual game nights, karaoke, and even virtual exercise classes.
Ms. Prescott believes that the pandemic has caused some employees and communities to be more empathetic resulting in corporate volunteerism and giving back. Some companies are donating to food banks, some are collecting fabric for mask making and some are providing pro-bono services.
Our business leaders emphasized that in order to take care of their employees, they also need to be sure to take care of themselves. Uncertainty (and upheaval) can cause anxiety and stress among the strongest of us! Self-care, a day-off, a walking break, meditation, exercise is really important. Don’t forget to not only check-in with your employees, but also with yourself.
In the long run, a corporate culture that highlights employee flexibility, empathy and community will only help to grow and strengthen your organization. While it’s hard to imagine that something good can come out of something so bad, maybe creating a stronger business culture and relationships both in and out of work is a shimmer of light in the darkness.
—Sandy Young, C3MD Leadership Team
Watch the YouTube event here: