Are you looking to introduce company culture to you and your staff? Of course, this is an amazing idea and one we encourage a lot. However organisational culture change can be a complex and challenging process, and there are several potential obstacles that you may encounter. Which is why we have put together some of the key challenges that you should be aware of:
- Resistance to change
One of the biggest challenges of culture change is overcoming resistance. For a lot of people they can fear change, and the workplace is no exception. From introducing a new software to their daily working, to introducing new cultural changes (even for the better). It’s easy for employees to get comfortable with the existing culture and therefore they may be reluctant to adopt new values or practices.
How to counter this: Gauge how your employees would feel about new cultures introduced to the company. If they are unsure then don’t introduce everything at ones. Find out if there is anything they would want to see introduced and start with that. - Lack of leadership buy-in
Culture change must be championed by leaders at all levels of the organisation, and if there is not strong buy-in from leadership, it can be difficult to successfully implement change.
How to counter this: Ensure that all leaders are on the same page beforehand, and you have a strategy in place that already excites the leaders. - Inadequate communication
Effective communication is critical to successful culture change, and if communication is unclear, inconsistent, or inadequate, it can hinder progress.
How to counter this: Get your internal comms up to scratch! Get all the information available for all employees. Also, don’t just spring this up on them when the change comes into affect. Get them excited and do a countdown. Give them something to look forward too. - Limited resources
Culture change can require significant time, effort, and resources, and if the organisation lacks the necessary resources, it may be difficult to make meaningful progress.
How to counter this: Make sure you have everything in place to ensure a smooth transition from the old to the new. Any bumps in the road could give employees reason to worry. - Difficulty in measuring success
Culture change can be difficult to measure and evaluate, which can make it challenging to demonstrate the impact of the change and identify areas for improvement.
How to counter this: Speak to your employees before the culture change, and after again. This will give you better understanding on what is working, and if there are anymore improvements to be made. - Incompatible systems and processes
Sometimes the existing systems and processes within an organisation can be incompatible with the desired culture change, which can make it challenging to implement the change effectively.
How to counter this: Very similar with point 4. Make sure that everything is working and compatible with your desired culture changes. Any issues will cause your employees not to trust the process.
- Lack of sustained effort
Culture change is not a one-time event, but rather an ongoing process that requires sustained effort over time. If the organisation lacks the commitment to sustain the effort, it may be difficult to maintain the desired culture change.
How to counter this: Allocate time each month to look at the culture at your company. Make sure this is a priority, and ensure this is evaluated to make those necessary changes.
As part of the senior leadership team, it’s important to be aware of these potential challenges and work proactively to address them as you embark on a culture change initiative. With careful planning, effective communication, and strong leadership, you can overcome these obstacles and successfully drive culture change within your organisation.
