In a survey conducted by the trade journal managerSeminare in October 2021, 74% of the participants answered that the importance of appreciation is still misunderstood in the job.* In other words: 3 out of 4 of the respondents would like to see this topic given a higher and sustainable priority in companies.
Unfortunately, these figures confirm my experience from numerous workshops, trainings and team development measures: Many companies are still far away from an appreciative organization, which (also according to this survey) should have the following characteristics, among others:
– Area-wide appreciative interaction with each other,
– Functioning error culture,
– Empowerment of employees for self-determined work, and
– Participation of employees in important decisions.
As soon as I present these points in a workshop/training (on the topic of modern leadership, solution-oriented communication or team development), I see many confirming nods from participants – at the same time, however, I also regularly receive statements such as “That would be real progress in our company!
At this point, it is worth taking a look at the hurdles that stand in the way of an appreciative organizational culture:
– Hierarchical thinking and status mentality (78%),
– Competitive and departmental thinking (66%),
– Lack of awareness of this issue (49%).
Mind you, these are survey results from October 2021! Classic management methods, inflexible organizational structures, and a focus on numbers and results are all considered outdated today – but they are still present in many companies.
Finally, I would like to highlight the concrete tips from the survey results on how appreciative leadership can be consistently implemented in everyday life:
– Listening, paying attention, taking your time
– Transparency and discussion at eye level
– Politeness and respect in dealing with each other
– Allowing other opinions
– Explicit appreciation of ideas and achievements
Let’s start right now today!
Author: Stefan Krötz, Senior Consultant CEVEYCONSULTING GmbH
*Results of the opinion monitor mS283 of the trade journal managerSeminare
#appreciativeorganization #leadership #companyculture #CEVEYGROUP
