Indicators that your culture-building may go awry

3 Minutes
07/10/2025
Here are some red flags!

01. You only collect numerical employee sentiment data 
This is an indictor that ease of reporting comes before unearthing the real issues. Surveys should ask open questions and focus groups always, always reveal more.

02. The senior people leader usually puts themselves front-and-centre
If storytelling about your internal events usually includes a selfie from the leader with their big face at the front and everyone else in the background, what does this say? 

03. Set piece events are favoured over ongoing improvements 
Hosting a Black History Month event or an International Women's Day event doesn't mean you are committed to EDI. Building EDI into your everyday employee experiences does. The first without the second is mere window-dressing. 

04. 100% of the focus is on senior leaders
Yes, senior leaders need to role model and they may require some support but they're not your only employees. Culture building must include activities which involve all of your employees. You may be waiting a very long time if you believe the right 

05 1:1s are check-ups not check-ins
1:1s should be more about understanding your people, and less about monitoring output.

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