The Standards You Ignore Are the Culture You Create

Strong cultures aren't built by enforcing the big rules only when they matter most. They're built through the consistent enforcement of small standards every single day.Unfortunately, many leaders fall into the trap of becoming complacent because they're tired of repeating themselves.After correcting the same behavior over and over, it becomes easier to look the other way than to address it again. The problem is that every ignored standard sends a message about what is truly acceptable. And over time, those small exceptions can create much bigger problems.

I do this all the time. Prime example- my dog is not allowed on our couch and she knows it too.However, when I leave the room, she wanders over and hops up onto the couch. The other day, I came downstairs to get something out of the kitchen and there she was laying on the couch like she owned the place. I thought to myself “Forget it- I am so sick and tired of telling her to get off this couch and she doesn’t listen to me anyways and is just going to hop up on there again when I leave.” And I didn’t tell her to get off. Shamefully, I just walked by and pretended that I didn’t see her because that felt easier in the moment.

How often do you do that?You see an employee show up to work not dressed up to the dress standards- their shirt is dirty and untucked and they haven’t combed their hair. Do you say something?Or just pretend you didn’t see it because you are so sick and tired of asking your employees to do the same things over and over again?

Is it really that big of a deal or harmful to anyone if your employee shows up with their shirt untucked? Probably not. It’s not going to physically hurt anyone. They just look sloppy. But what it does hurt is your culture. If things like untucked shirts are allowed to slide and management doesn’t say anything to correct these seemingly harmless behaviors, other standards will start to slide, including your safety standards...which IS a big deal and IS endangering your employees and your equipment.If your employees can’t follow the small policies, then how can you expect them to follow the big ones?

So don’t be like me and my dog. Enforce the small standards so you can continue to enforce the big ones and create and maintain a culture of compliance and safety for all policies.