How To Change Company Culture By Literally 'Burying The Hatchet'

Learning how to change company culture to foster a more positive environment isn’t easy. This is especially so if division in the ranks is to blame for a negative atmosphere. rnThis brings me to a great example of how to change company culture by literally burying the hatchet. rnRelations between two departments had deteriorated badly over the years. One was a state government agency, the other from the private sector. The culture of these two “partners” could not have been more different. rnAt a team-building workshop, top managers from both sides decided to “bury the hatchet.” rnThey bought a large, new hatchet at the hardware store in town. On one side, the government agency wrote their festering complaints. On the other, the private sector group wrote their protests, moans and grumbles. rnAfter agreeing to work more positively in the future, both sides held a ceremony on the lawn. With photographers present, they dug a deep hole and literally “buried the hatchet.” This symbolic ritual sent a strong, positive signal that the past was past. Both sides took responsibility for the future. rnCan you see these two teams standing next to a pile of fresh dirt? Can you hear their pledge to start again anew? Can you feel the commitment as they walked away from a ceremonial hole in the ground? rnThey took a positive step to learn how to change company culture for the better by acknowledging problems in the open and vowing to move forward. Key Learning Point For How To Change Company Culture rnTo overcome old wounds and learn how to change company culture you may need to work on a symbolic level. Action Steps For How To Change Company Culture rnThink about where your partnerships could be improved. Find a common phrase that captures the solution: “bury the hatchet,” “patch things up,” “water under the bridge.” Perform a ceremonial rite or ritual that engages everyone in a gesture of new work and healing. UpYourService