Improve office culture by asking everyone to create a healthy work environment by their commitment to stop back biting (aka adult bullying).
How to start changing an unhealthy work environment | Glenn D. Rolfsen | TEDxOslo. YouTube/TEDx Talks. (2016, May 2). https://youtu.be/eYLb7WUtYt8?si=5leyYVXZirxy2gs5
Quotes and paraphrasing from Glenn D. Rolfsen
Next time someone comes to you with information about someone else who is not present, use Socrates “Triple Filter Test,” by first asking them the following:
- Do you know that this piece of information is true?
- Are you going to tell me something good about this person?
- Is the information you want to tell me useful?
How to implement change
Gather the group and ask the following questions:
- Do you feel that this is an unhealth work environment?
- Agree/Disagree
- Define back-biting and asking, do you believe that back biting happens here?
- Explain this triple filter test.
- Ask everyone if they would like to work in a healthy work environment, where there is no back biting?
Action steps
- Invite those who would like to join you in changing the unhealth work environment to sign up for a six-month project where they agree to ask these three questions before entertaining any commentary about another member of their team, colleagues at their workplace, even challenge themselves to carry this practice home to friends and family members.
- Frame the agreement and post it in a visible place as a reminder to everyone of their commitment to change our workplace into a healthy work environment.
- Have weekly check ins asking, How are we doing with [_____ project title?]” Helping to hold one another accountable and commit to stop talking negatively about [____ insert person, group, or issue].
Assessment
In six months, ask the change questions again. Additionally, review leave requests and productivity measures. Did sick leave requests decrease? Did productivity and workplace satisfaction increase?
The Advisor That Cares 