Celebrate and disseminate acts of connection

- As people, we're curious. How do others go about sharing their vision, demonstrating they value people as unique individuals and increasing knowledge flow as they give people a voice? Knowing their stories might shed some light on our own situation, affirm what we're doing right or wrong, or give us new ideas of what to try. Stories are powerful. Research has shown that practices that already exist within a culture have a higher probability of adoption by others within the culture. If a certain practice is working well in one department, the leader of another department has more confidence to introduce it in his or her area. That's why in addition to measuring, mentoring and coaching, a valuable step to sustain your connection culture is to celebrate acts of connection. Honor the people who actively connect with others by sharing their actions. I call these individuals culture carriers. Celebrating culture carriers sends a powerful message while also promoting best practices. Who are the culture carriers in your organization? Surveying your organization will help you identify connected leaders and connected members. Another way is to be on the lookout for individuals who help the people they work alongside and their customers. Shine a light on these individuals through communications, such as your organization's intranet, social media, and print publications. You might also consider creating a book of employee stories about aspects of your culture. Zappos does this. The book "Smile Guide: Employee Perspectives on Culture, Loyalty and Profit," by Paul Spiegelman CEO of Beryl Companies, is a great example. To build and maintain your connection culture for the long run, establish a culture committee, culture office, or culture center to promote a connection culture across groups within your organization that are dependent on each other to perform well. Southwest Airlines established a culture services department for the express purpose of championing a culture through which every employee knows he or she matters. Its culture committee, comprised of employees from across the company, works to recognize, celebrate and appreciate all employees. Celebrating and disseminating acts of connection is something you can start at any time. It's a powerful tool to use in building upon a connection mindset and in cultivating a connection skillset. To get you started, think of three connectors. People who consistently bring your organization's culture to life by connecting with colleagues or customers. What are some specific examples of times you've observed when they connected with others? Write down what you come up with. Now, what are some ways you can share these stories with the rest of your organization?