Cannabis culture change: the power of small gestures
"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less” C.S. Lewis
I recently wrote on how to address a toxic cannabis culture. It generated lots of comments. Some people (reasonably) thought that my suggestions were unlikely to yield immediate results. They asked if there were any simple, actionable steps that could produce quicker results.
Fortunately, I’m aware of a couple of common-sense, research-backed fixes.
Small gestures, big results
Encouraging the use of politesse and small gestures of appreciation can have an outsized effect on employee satisfaction and loyalty. This is not warm and fuzzy fluff. Several research studies (from Harvard and Kings College no less) confirmed the positive impact that acts of thoughtfulness can have on staff morale and productivity.
1) Insist on the magic words
Most people prefer civility to toxicity. Fostering the use of magic words (MW) such as ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘excuse me’ can go a long way in repairing a sick culture. MW disarm foes, improves communication clarity, and rewards & reinforces good behaviors. Managers need not turn into language police. Consistent modeling of these words will drive compliance leading to cultural renewal and enhanced collaboration.
2) Encourage small acts of kindness
Small gestures like bringing someone a drink, holding a door or congratulating them on a job well done will go a long way in building goodwill, trust and mutual obligation. The researchers found both givers and receivers of these acts reported feeling higher levels of job satisfaction, while the receivers ended up performing more favours to other colleagues.
Making it work
MW should be a natural part of everyday verbal and written discourse. Thankfully most people recognise these sentiments and their appeal. However, their usage should not be ‘corporatized’ such that they lose meaning and appear contrived. Thanking everyone for everything turns gratitude into a commodity and risks appearing like performative virtue signalling. It is best to encourage the use of MW individually and within teams. One easy way to promote MW norms is to make it part of the selection criteria for new hires and promotions.
The effectiveness of small acts of kindness drives off effort, authenticity and scarcity. The gestures ought to involve some individual effort to demonstrate sincerity: a call or handwritten note is better than an email, which is better than an algorithm. It is the recognition of the person, not the gesture’s cost, that really matters. The act should feel personal, and not part of a scheme created by HR or an automated application. Again, effecting change comes down to managerial modeling and organizational recognition.
#change #kindness #HR #culture #management #employeeengagement