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How managers can lead the behavioural culture of their organisation

Every organisation is defined by its leaders. Whether managers realise it or not, their actions have an impact on the way that the business is perceived, and the relationships between employees, on a daily basis. While this means that leaders always have to hold themselves accountable, it also provides opportunities for those in management positions to proactively shape the culture of an organisation. There are a number of different ways that this can happen

Leading by example

Often the most effective way to define the behaviours and attributes that you want to see within an organisation is to display these yourself. Managers have the opportunity to make themselves into a template for how the rest of the business should behave and to define the broader culture as a result.

Inspiring with purpose

Positive behaviours within an organisation are often forged via engagement with the business and its goals. Central to this is ensuring that employees understand what their role is and how it fits into the broader purpose of the business. Without a purpose, those within the organisation who look to management to provide direction will fill the void created themselves, which can result in very different focus and behaviours to those that management might be looking to nurture. Ensuring that employees understand the requirements of the role and are inspired to fulfill it to drive the business forward will be essential to establishing a more positive behavioural culture.

Instilling operational excellence

Within the oil and gas industry, operational excellence is critical for both safety and efficiency. This is where the importance of instilling strong company values comes in for managers. It is their role to lead the rest of their team by demonstrating behaviours of excellence, responsibility and taking pride in the organisation – and personally showing these values naturally has a knock-on effect on the attitude and approach of the team. Operational excellence may require some training, but behaviours can also be taught by managers instilling a strong business culture.

Accountability and training

Accountability ensures that everyone in the business is responsible for their actions and the outcomes that they produce, including working with excellence. For this to work it needs to start at the very top with managers and executives who are held accountable in all things. Key to this is defining what success looks like – what does each role within the business involve and how will progress be measured for that role? Coaching and training can not only help individuals to achieve professional careers objectives but also reinforce the values and vision of the business that create the desired cultural environment.

Regular performance assessment for all staff will ensure that everyone is held to these standards. Key to accountability is transparency – staff need to see why systems are in place and that systems and metrics don’t just apply to them. This is key to an industry where excellence and accuracy are key to success.

Managers have significant influence over the behavioural culture of an organisation and a lot can be achieved by making a few small changes to systems and approaches. Here at Euro Petroleum Consultants, we are strong believers in the power of management over the organizational culture. Find out more by getting in touch with us today.