Managerial culture: why and how to implement it?

What is managerial culture?

Managerial culture is the bedrock of any thriving organization. It encompasses the collective values, norms, practices, and behaviors embraced by leaders within a company. This culture shapes decision-making processes, employee management, and the articulation of the company's identity.


The Critical Role of a Strong Managerial Culture

The strategic value of a robust managerial culture is undeniable:

1. Boosting Employee Engagement: A Gallup study reveals that organizations with a solid management culture witness employee engagement surging by up to 59%. This heightened engagement enhances productivity and the quality of work.

2. Enhancing Talent Retention: Companies fostering a positive workplace, underpinned by a healthy managerial culture, experience a significant drop in turnover rates, as much as 14%, as per International Labor Office statistics.

3. Amplifying Performance: Research by Harvard Business Review indicates that companies championing a positive managerial culture see their profits triple compared to those lacking such a culture.


Building a Management Culture

1. Establish Core Values: Begin by pinpointing your company's fundamental values. These should form the cornerstone of your managerial culture. Urge managers to align their practices with these values, ensuring consistency and a shared sense of purpose. A management charter, like the customizable model from Popwork, can be instrumental in defining manager expectations and behaviors.

Cover of Popwork's customizable management charter

2. Lead by Example and Communicate: Transform managers into cultural ambassadors. They should personify the culture in their everyday actions and communicate it effectively. Regular updates, actions mirroring values, and exemplary behaviors are key to embedding this culture throughout the organization. Aligning on values from the get-go, especially during recruitment, is crucial.

3. Train and Engage: Educating managers on expected practices and behaviors is vital. Equip them with resources and platforms like Popwork. Engaging employees in understanding and embracing the managerial culture is equally important, perhaps through interactive corporate culture training or regular feedback solicitation.

4. Monitor and Refine: Employ performance metrics to gauge the impact of your managerial culture. Listen to employee feedback and tweak the culture accordingly for continuous evolution and improvement. Tools like Popwork can facilitate tracking these metrics and managing your company's culture.

Popwork HR insights dashboards

In essence, a robust managerial culture is the cornerstone of any company's journey to success. By fostering an environment where values are not just espoused but actively practiced and promoted, businesses can significantly boost team engagement, retention, and performance, thereby strengthening their identity and ensuring sustainable growth.