If you have lived in Christchurch, you will know about the nor’wester wind. It is hot, dry, and it blows a lot in summer. It is even linked to Seasonal Affective Disorder and depression. I don’t recall it affecting my mood too much, but I do remember dreading the bike ride home from school straight into that wind. While some might have seen it as a challenge and embraced it, I hated those bike rides.
It’s funny how much the weather, or more broadly our environment, can shape our experiences, outlook, and even motivation. There is the saying “that we are a product of our environment,” and there is definitely some truth in that. Judging by the conversations being had now, 2 things seem to be dominating our environment, the fact that we are deep in the midst of winter and the crap weather this brings, and if you are in sales or any part of business, the continuation of a tough market. There is no doubt that both of these have an impact on the performance and culture inside businesses.
The weather and the economy will either provide tail winds or head winds. At the moment, we have some headwinds. People are grumpy, and you can literally feel it. Most of us are just trying to get through to warmer or better times. When the weather and the economy is crap, confidence takes a hit.
And it’s in these tougher times, the effect on culture can be significant. When things are harder and sales slow down, the pressure starts to rise, especially on leaders. They feel the heat and it rolls downhill to the team. Suddenly, the energy shifts and there is a negative impact on culture. People lose enjoyment and even things like having a laugh in the office can be frowned upon.
The customer feels that too. In slower times, they have more leverage. They know they have options, and they can push on price and other terms. So not only can revenue take a dip but margin can as well.
I remember a contact once saying that winter just puts everyone in their company in survival mode. People get quieter. Energy drops. The business responds with pressure. More check-ins, more pipeline reviews, more noise. The team stops trusting. People go into their shells. And even when spring comes, it can take months to get the energy back.
So, what do you do?
- Acknowledge the season/economic situation
Call it what it is. Set realistic expectations, focus on longer-term plays, and talk openly about the challenges. - Invest in culture, not control
The instinct is to tighten the screws when things get hard. Back your people. Put more focus on connection. - Celebrate inputs, not just outputs
You can’t always control the result, especially in a slow season. But you can control the activity. Celebrate good behaviours. Recognise effort. Momentum builds from action, not just outcomes. - Connection
Don’t hide the pressure, share it. Be human. Check in with your team. On the other side, if you report into a leader, recognise that things may be harder for them and forgive them for their frustrations. - Don’t forget about fun
Ok we get it, things might be tougher, it is serious work, and some businesses are in trouble, but life will go on and don’t forget about having fun. Fun can provide energy, and in turn energy can provide results.
The truth is that culture doesn’t get built in the good times. It gets built when things are tough. But if you can hold your culture through it, you’ll come out stronger when the sun returns.
August is culture month at Indicator, a reminder to companies that if they are having headwinds, don’t forget about culture. The best way to get out of a tough situation is to have everyone on board, with energy, hard work, but a bit of fun along the way!
