Page 113 - Make Work Great

Beginning Your Crystal

the participants to produce their own cultural crystal. I now realize
my limited intervention time would have been better spent coaching
the other team members to role-model their own environment. One or
two people could have stood up, asked for a pause, and suggested that

the group get more specific about the relationship between activity and
outcome. I’ve seen this happen in other teams with positive results,
initiating complete turnarounds in output and stress level despite a
few problems “from above.” A cultural crystal can start anywhere.
You are the role model. Whoever you are, be careful what you’re
teaching by example. Also, keep a watchful eye on what appears in the
culture around you. That, after all, is the mirror that shows you what
you’re creating. Be sure that what you’re making is, in fact, great.

EXERCISES

1. Select the fi rst person you wish to add to your cultural crystal:
a trusted employee, manager, or peer with whom you already
have a positive and productive relationship.

2. Plan to have a conversation with that person about workplace
purpose—yours and his or hers—and see where the conversation
leads in terms of the other areas of overtness. Be sure to defi ne your
question, your approach, and your need for agreement in advance.
Also, review the section of this chapter that matches the organiza-
tional relationship between you (employee, manager, or peer).

3. Have the interaction, note what goes well and what doesn’t, and
make plans for the next conversation.

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