The culture of a workplace includes the norms, values and beliefs that shape how employees think, feel, and act. It is the invisible architecture that holds everything together or allows it to fall apart. To build awareness in cultivating a positive workplace culture, NewLeaf developed the Organizational Coherence Index, a framework that shows how, when aligned, nine workplace elements work together to drive capacity-building and alignment.
The Framing Dimension (as shown in the graphic below) represents the executive function of an organization or team, as it sets the vision, plans how to reach it, establishes the expectations and uses feedback to improve and adapt as things change.
Think of it as the foundation and framing of a house: it sets the structure for everything else to build on. This structural frame in our model is made up of three key elements: mission and vision, governance, and policies. And if that framing is not strong and sturdy, the entire house (or the organization) is at risk of collapsing.
Mission and Vision
A clear mission and vision are significant contributors to the cultural framework of an organization. 79% of people reflect on an organization’s purpose before applying for a job. A strong vision, grounded in core values, allows individuals to visualize where the organization is headed and helps employees feel aligned with its goals which leads to a greater sense of motivation, connection, engagement and commitment. The sense of belonging fosters a belief that their work belongs to something more meaningful, leading to better performance. Without it, individuals within an organization are more likely to act in accordance with their own values and objectives in mind.
Governance
Effective governance is the foundation of a healthy workplace, building trust and fostering a positive culture. Leadership goes beyond overseeing tasks; it is about empowering employees, being consistent, and offering mentorship. Reciprocal trust is the glue that holds everything together. Ethical leaders who show up with empathy, transparency, active listening and effective communication create a safe environment where people feel valued, supported and engaged. When leaders honour their commitments and embody fairness, they cultivate a culture of credibility and mutual respect. Through investing in employees’ growth, leaders help reduce stress and burnout, creating an environment where people can thrive both personally and professionally.
Policies
Unambiguous and consistently enforced policies allow employees to understand the guidelines for behaviour and know exactly what to expect and how to act. But it is not just about the rules, it is about creating an environment where communication is open and feedback is constructive, ultimately, fostering trust in leadership and the organization. Clear and well-implemented policies create transparency; help prevent bias and minimize conflict.
Take a moment to reflect: Is your workplace intentionally shaping its culture, or is it letting it form by default?
Use our organizational coherence calculator and let that drive your culture transformation!
Interested to learn more about the other dimensions of our Coherence index? Stay tuned for our future blog or contact us today!
References
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Dobrinić, D., & Fabac, R. (2021). Familiarity with mission and vision: Impact on organizational commitment and job satisfaction. Business Systems Research: International Journal of the Society for Advancing Innovation and Research in Economy, 12(1), 124-143.
Oghojafor, B. E. A., Olayemi, O. O., Okonji, P. S., & Okolie, J. U. (2011). Enhancing an organization’s performance through effective vision and mission. Chinese Business Review, 10(11).
Cloutier, O., Felusiak, L., Hill, C., & Pemberton-Jones, E. J. (2015). The importance of developing strategies for employee retention. Journal of Leadership, Accountability & Ethics, 12(2).
Kane‐Urrabazo, C. (2006). Management’s role in shaping organizational culture. Journal of nursing management, 14(3), 188-194.
Gilbreath, B. (2004). Creating healthy workplaces: The supervisor’s role. International review of industrial and organizational psychology, 19, 93-118.
Gabriel, K. P., & Aguinis, H. (2022). How to prevent and combat employee burnout and create healthier workplaces during crises and beyond. Business horizons, 65(2), 183-192.
Du Plessis, A. J. (2016). The contribution of policies, procedures and rules for successful suggestion systems in organisations: some research findings. Jurnalul Practicilor Comunitare Pozitive, 16(1), 92-106
