{"id":19066,"date":"2023-06-16T04:50:01","date_gmt":"2023-06-16T08:50:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/?p=19066"},"modified":"2024-09-11T04:03:09","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T08:03:09","slug":"the-key-to-maximum-productivity-a-purposeful-positive-and-productive-work-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/the-key-to-maximum-productivity-a-purposeful-positive-and-productive-work-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"The key to maximum productivity: A purposeful, positive, and productive work culture"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/category\/people-leadership\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">People &amp; Leadership<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe key to maximum productivity: A purposeful, positive, and productive work culture\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2023-06-16T04:50:01-04:00\">June 16, 2023<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"The key to maximum productivity: A purposeful, positive, and productive work culture\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/the-key-to-maximum-productivity-a-purposeful-positive-and-productive-work-culture\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/header>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/author\/chrisedmondsmarkbabbitt\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/08\/Edmonds-Babbitt-Authors-600x600-1-350x350.png\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"chris-edmonds-and-mark-babbitt\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/08\/Edmonds-Babbitt-Authors-600x600-1-350x350.png 350w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/08\/Edmonds-Babbitt-Authors-600x600-1.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 40px) 100vw, 40px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Chris Edmonds &amp; Mark Babbitt<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Reaching maximum productivity was a puzzle before the pandemic. In today\u2019s unsettled market, getting the most out of people and processes is much more difficult.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Top talent is required to unlock productivity. When you can\u2019t retain, much less attract, top talent, productivity and commitment suffer. And more than a year after the pandemic, many companies are still losing good people.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As younger generations resist old-school management approaches and repel disrespectful workplaces, the \u201cgreat resignation\u201d continues:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Over 15 million US workers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/news.release\/jolts.t04.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">voluntarily quit their jobs<\/a> from October 2022 to January 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the UK, people are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.standard.co.uk\/business\/great-resignation-uk-rate-deutsche-bank-sanjay-raja-b978084.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">quitting their jobs<\/a> at the highest rate since 2009.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2023\/01\/18\/70percent-of-gen-z-and-millennials-are-considering-leaving-their-jobs-soon.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported by CNBC<\/a>, a new LinkedIn study found that 70% of Gen Z and millennials plan to quit their jobs in 2023.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>There is undeniable data on the positive side, as well.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Companies with purposeful, positive, and productive work cultures are not losing top talent. In fact, they\u2019re <em>attracting<\/em> top talent daily. The uncompromising cultures of Radio Flyer, Five Below, Stryker, In-N-Out Burger, NVidia UK, and other companies are thriving in our post-pandemic world of work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The key to maximum productivity at these \u201cgreat places to work\u201d organizations is a workplace where <strong>respect<\/strong> is as important as <strong>results<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the new reality: Today, employees of every generation desire and deserve workplaces where they are respected and validated for their aligned ideas, efforts, and contributions every day.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How your employees are treated in daily interactions\u2014by leaders and colleagues\u2014has a significant impact on productivity. When employees experience deserved respect and validation in their workplace or, if necessary, the support they need through a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/performance-improvement-plan\/\">performance improvement plan<\/a>, they thrive. They proactively solve problems, cooperate to create efficiency through process improvement, treat customers and peers with respect, and brag about the great company they work for.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Conversely, when employees do not experience deserved respect and validation, they quit and leave. Some quit and stay.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To start, leaders must accept that what they\u2019ve tried in the past has not helped. Disrespectful, command-and-control approaches will not solve this problem. Those approaches make the problem worse.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, most business leaders have never been asked to proactively manage a healthy work culture. Most don\u2019t know <em>how<\/em> to proactively turn a crappy culture into an uncompromising work culture.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our <a href=\"https:\/\/goodcomesfirst.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">proven culture change process<\/a> guides leaders to:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Define<\/strong> their desired work culture&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Align<\/strong> people to the defined work culture&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Refine<\/strong> plans, decisions, and actions\u2014as well as people resistant to change\u2014to their defined work culture.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The define phase requires the creation of an Organizational Constitution, a formal agreement that includes the company\u2019s:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Servant*purpose<\/strong>\u2014How the company\u2019s products and services improve the quality of life of customers and communities.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Values<\/strong>\u2014The principles that guide how leaders and peers are expected to treat others.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Behaviors<\/strong>\u2014Observable, measurable, and tangible descriptions of how each stakeholder demonstrates the values in daily interactions.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strategies and goals<\/strong>\u2014A 2-to-3-year plan that outlines your strategic thrusts and measurable goals.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the Organizational Constitution is formulated and communicated, the real work begins. Simply announcing your desired culture doesn\u2019t immediately translate to leaders and team members modeling your defined values and behaviors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Culture is built upon the desired behaviors leaders reward and torn down by the disrespectful, unproductive behaviors leaders tolerate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means leaders must hold everyone in the company\u2014including fellow leaders and managers\u2014accountable for demonstrating valued behaviors. To ensure accountability occurs, leaders must:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Model<\/strong> the valued behaviors and service purpose.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Coach<\/strong> those that are not demonstrating your valued behaviors and service purpose to ensure alignment.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Measure<\/strong> formal leaders through custom-values surveys that enable employees to rate their bosses on the degree to which those bosses model your valued behaviors.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Celebrate<\/strong> when leaders and team members demonstrate your valued behaviors and service purpose.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mentor<\/strong> those that don\u2019t respond to coaching. If players do align and become great citizens, cthen you can celebrate. However, if players do not align, leaders must carinly help them out of your organization.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Building an uncompromising company culture takes time, focus, and energy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Within 12 to 18 months, our typical change partners see increases in employee retention and referrals of 35%. Employee engagement improves by as much as 40%\u2014as do customer service ratings. And performance metrics\u2014including productivity and profits\u2014increase by 35%&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t leave the quality of your work culture to chance. Create an uncompromising work culture where employees thrive.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[Footnote] * Servant purpose is a very specific kind of mission statement. \u201cIt is what your company does, for whom, and to what end. Put another way: Your servant purpose is how what you do as a company improves customers\u2019 lives. This comes down to your \u201cwhy,\u201d or the core motivation for your work.\u201d\u00ad Mark S. Babbitt and S. Chris Edmonds, Good Comes First (Matt Holt Books, 2021), pg. 19.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to our Sage Advice Newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get our latest business advice delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-ab515c6e-7e90-4c2f-a67e-113872516e8b\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Working from home with tea in hand\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this article, we cover the key to maximum productivity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1707,"featured_media":16337,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[138,253,272],"business_type":[41],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[],"imagine_tag":[],"coauthors":[931],"class_list":["post-19066","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people-leadership","tag-leadership","tag-performance","tag-productivity","business_type-growing-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-us","author_name":"Chris Edmonds &#38; Mark Babbitt","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/GettyImages-954307646-928x522-1.jpg","imagine_tags":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice US","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19066","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1707"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19066"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19066\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/16337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19066"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19066"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19066"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=19066"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=19066"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=19066"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=19066"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=19066"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=19066"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=19066"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}