The Wisconsin School of Business Center for Professional & Executive Development is proud to partner with Deanna Singh and Justin Ponder of Uplifting Impact to provide diversity, equity, and inclusion programs to professionals who are committed to creating environments where all employees can thrive. The following blog by instructor Deanna Singh was published on the Purposeful Hustle blog on February 18, 2020.
A company’s success is largely dependent on its culture. Peter Drucker once said, “culture eats strategy for breakfast.” Before you take on a position at a new company, are you taking time to examine its culture? I didn’t at first and it got me into hot water.
New Job is Exciting Until You Start Digging Deep
The other day a good friend of mine called to talk through a job offer. He was excited about the prospects of joining a new organization but a few minutes into the conversation, his excitement changed to concern.
Now that was not my intention. I was happy for my friend and glad that he was getting a new opportunity. What happened? Why did our conversation take a turn?
Questions About Culture
Well, I started to ask him a bunch of questions about the organization’s culture that he could not answer.
– Are people happy?
– Do people move throughout the organization in reasonable time?
– Is there opportunity for growth?
– What are the conversations internally like around diversity, equity, and inclusion?
– What kinds of leaders thrive?
– Why have other people left?
I had a long list of questions and you might be wondering where I got them from. I have been able to come up with my list of organizational culture questions based on things I WISH I had asked in other roles.
One of the mistakes I have made in the past is not fully understanding the kind of culture I was walking into.
If you are considering a new role, before you accept, sit down and write a bunch of questions about culture that you would want to ask and if you are not looking at a role, this is even better time for you to create a list of what you love and what you could do without in your current culture. The likelihood that you are going to move to another role, if not now, sometime in your career is high.
Knowing what you are looking for will help you know if you have found it!
Do you know what kind of work culture you would thrive in?
If you want to ensure that your organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts are aligned with your strategic goals and culture, join us for an upcoming program. Programs in the Professional Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will show you strategic approaches to assemble, onboard, and foster an inclusive team.
About the Author
Deanna Singh is a business consultant, speaker, and podcaster who is internationally recognized for her work in leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Deanna helps clients create more equitable and inclusive work environments and engage more authentically within their internal and external communities.