Peter Drucker said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”
Experts agree that a fundamental organizational success factor, even more important than vision, is culture. While it can be said that many leaders have sound vision, some have, perhaps inadvertently, implemented a toxic culture.
Dr. Amina Aitsi-Selmi believes that the existence of one or more of the following examples of organizational violence signify that you are working in a toxic environment:
1. Disrespect/belittling
2. Unreasonable pressure to achieve short-term results at expense of long-term strategic objectives
3. Inequity/ unfairness/ favoritism/ injustice
4. Harassment and/or bullying of any nature
5. Lack of empathy/ appreciation/ support
6. Micromanagement/ excessive control
7. Lack of integrity/ encourages dishonesty
8. Morally questionable behavior
We have an ethical responsibility to pursue our careers with rigor and integrity. The fact that our work can oftentimes be embedded in an organizational context and subject to political pressures does not relieve us of our responsibility to execute our work with the highest standards of professional conduct.
If our employer is not willing to allow us to honestly pursue our work without using organizational violence to control us, it is most likely time for us to quit and find ourselves a better employer.
Does your organization need change management support to address culture and ethics? Contact RTI today.