Strong Company Culture Starts with Better Questions: Not, 'How’s it Goin'

Don’t ask your co-workers how their weekend was. It could kill your company’s culture. And don’t ask them, “How’s it going,” either.

Strong culture is critical for a company’s survival, especially given “The Great Resignation” that many industries are going through today, including commercial real estate. 

A recent poll found that 48 percent to 50 percent of all workers are “looking” for another job.

Peter Lynch, Chief People Officer at The Cardinal Group, a best-in-class marketing agency that caters exclusively to the multifamily space, addressed how to build a positive culture during a presentation Monday at the MFE Conference in Las Vegas.

Lynch should know, his company has consistently had a quarterly employee turnover rate of less than 7 percent, while the national average is about 20 percent. His company has seen a 40 percent annual increase in resumes received. The Cardinal Group is considered one of the industry’s best companies to work for.

One reason, their people⁠—including their leadership⁠—ask better questions.

“Don’t walk in Monday morning and immediately say to a person you pass in the hallway, ‘So, how was your weekend?’ Naturally, they will be inclined to say, ‘Good’ or ‘Fine.’ That’s not good enough.

“Try: ‘So, what was your favorite part of the weekend?’ This will get them to open up and share. Get ready for a lengthy response, with tons of details. Here, you’ve made a real connection, because you asked a better question.”

Those connections are what help to build a happy workforce, one of congeniality and decency.

‘You Cannot Offend Me’

Lynch said the “decade of decency” in the workplace and society is coming. He can feel it. He said culture has become so important these days as companies strive to win the battle for talent in a highly competitive environment.

“You look around a lot today and you see that we, as a people, have forgotten how to have a sane conversation,” Lynch said. People are defensive, or they hold back, he said. They are safe. Everyone is afraid to offend.

Lynch told the story about how an online troll (a stranger) posted a put-down to his social media feed when he showed a picture of himself that highlighted his big forehead. The young person made fun of him, but instead of responding in anger, Lynch agreed, made a self-deprecating comment about himself, and began an online dialogue.

“Today, that person is one of my most engaged followers, all because we had a real online conversation,” Lynch said.

He said that a recent poll showed that 53 percent of the workforce “feels invisible” at their company, and a recent survey by Deloitte showed that “recognition” is the No. 1 performance driver in the minds of workers⁠—the first time that category has ever come out on top.

Lynch, a noted Fortune 500 global executive in talent management, operations, change management, diversity & inclusion, communications, as well as a Ted Talk speaker and author of HR-related books, said to executive leaders:

“You win the marketplace when you win the workplace.”