Every team and organization on the planet is seeking to create a culture that compels people and propels their Mission. Jason Barger and Eric Stone chat about a few elements critical to shaping culture in today’s world.
SHOW NOTES
Jason introduces Season 8 episode 17 of the podcast, Jumpstarting Culture — chat with Eric Stone. Welcome back to the podcast on corporate culture and leadership and thank you for listening. We engage thought leaders like CEOs, CFOs, managers, VPs, directors, and more for this podcast. We wish to create content that engages your mind and heart and allows you to step back and think and add some positivity to your life. We deep dive into today’s topic.
We can’t control everything but what we can control is our response. Still a lot of work to do but wanted to remind the audience what is within our control is the temperature we create in the organizations and teams we work with.
Please leave a review for the podcast It really helps the podcast to spread these messages out into the world. Please share this podcast with your organization, on your team, or in your life to help spread these messages. Thank you!
If any of these topics are interesting to you please or you want a deep dive on any specific topics, please reach out to us at info@jasonvbarger.com
In this captivating episode of the podcast, “The Thermostat,” host Jason V. Barger sits down with Eric Stone, a seasoned leader with a rich background in shaping company cultures through his 26-year career at Enterprise Holdings. Their discussion, rich with insights and experiences, delves into the intentional and strategic shaping of workplace environments to foster high performance and genuine engagement.
Understanding Company Culture
At [00:00:23], Jason begins by welcoming Eric, setting the stage for a deep dive into what company culture truly means. Eric describes company culture as “behaviors in action,” emphasizing the need for a strategy that embraces and executes these behaviors seamlessly ([00:00:30]). This foundational view is critical, as both guests agree that culture isn’t just a buzzword but a tangible strategy closely linked to organizational success.
“Culture is so intentional. Strategy has to be designed to embrace the culture, and the culture has to be able to execute the strategy.” – Eric Stone
The Role of Leadership in Shaping Culture
Leadership’s role in shaping and steering company culture is a recurring theme, highlighted vividly at [00:06:19] where Jason talks about how leadership must not only set expectations but also actively engage in the cultural environment they wish to foster. They discuss the pitfalls of disengagement and the importance of leaders being present and responsive to the needs and dynamics of their teams.
“The best leaders and team cultures in the world are the ones that make time to step back.” – Jason V. Barger
Stories from the Field: Lessons on Engagement and Trust
Eric shares compelling stories from his time at Enterprise, illustrating how culture drives business outcomes. At [00:16:06], he discusses the complexity and redundancy that often hinder clear communication and cultural coherence, using examples from his own experiences where simplifying processes led to improved engagement and effectiveness.
Interesting Story:
Eric recounts a healthcare system’s complexity when he tried to modify a family health plan, illustrating how convoluted processes can negatively impact both employee and customer satisfaction ([00:16:41]).
Challenges in Cultivating Culture
The conversation at [00:18:36] shifts to the obstacles organizations face in cultivating a positive culture. They discuss how distractions, lack of clarity, and the frequent change in organizational focus can derail cultural initiatives. Eric emphasizes the importance of consistency and alignment in leadership messages and actions to prevent these pitfalls.
“People will see right through it if you’re just doing something to do it because it’s a checkbox.” – Eric Stone
Diagnosing and Adjusting Company Culture
Towards the end of the podcast ([00:22:36]), Jason and Eric explore the diagnostic tools and strategies leaders can use to assess and adjust company culture. They stress the importance of listening campaigns and employee feedback mechanisms as essential tools for understanding the health and dynamics of an organization.
“We have to own the vision we want to be a part of the future of leadership.” – Jason V. Barger
Conclusion
This episode of “The Thermostat” not only highlights what effective company culture looks like but also provides a roadmap for leaders looking to cultivate an environment that fosters growth, engagement, and success. Through their engaging and informative discussion, Jason V. Barger and Eric Stone offer valuable lessons on the intentional creation of workplace culture that resonates across all levels of an organization.
Tune in to Season 8, Episode 17 of “The Thermostat” for a masterclass in leadership and cultural excellence with Jason V. Barger and guest Eric Stone. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or a newcomer to the field of cultural strategy, this episode is packed with actionable insights that can help steer your company towards a more engaged and productive future.
The Upcoming episode will feature The Most Important AI. Stay Tuned!
Please leave a review for the podcast It really helps the podcast to spread these messages out into the world. Please share this podcast with your organization, on your team, or in your life to help spread these messages. Thank you!
If any of these topics are interesting to you please or you want a deep dive on any specific topics, please reach out to us at info@jasonvbarger.com
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Remember, the best leaders, teams, & cultures stimulate progress by recalibrating their thermostat together.
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ABOUT THE THERMOSTAT
Conversations and micro-thoughts to engage your mind and heart.
A thermostat is proactive. It sets the temperature in a room. Controls the temperature. Regulates the temperature. But in today’s distracted, fast-paced and digital world, it’s easy for individuals and organizations to act more like thermometers, slipping into reactionary thinking, becoming scattered and inconsistent. The most compelling leaders, teams, organizations, families, or collection of humans of any kind operate in thermostat mode. They calibrate their mind and heart to set the temperature for the vision and culture they want to create. Jason Barger, globally celebrated author, keynote speaker, and founder of Step Back Leadership Consulting, is the host of The Thermostat, a podcast journey to discover authentic leadership, create compelling cultures and find clarity of mission, vision, and values.