CULTURE WORK

Overview 

This project was with a transformer manufacturing company. This employer is part of a large, internationally owned corporation.  Initially, I was contracted to develop a culture training program for a new plant that was about to open. Together, I helped them define their desired culture and develop a strategy to operationalize it.

NOTE - A good faith effort has been made to remove all client logos, names, and location information.  I appreciate your discretion and confidentiality should I have missed any.

Discovery Findings

Initial Objective: 

Develop a culture training program for selected frontline leaders to deliver as a part of onboarding all employees at a new plant.

Per the client the culture training must include:

• Anchor – Something employees can easily say/see/reference to remind people of the importance of culture.  

• Should teach real responsibility/accountability of all.  This is not something the leaders are doing. Establish expectations of employees

• Incorporate One COMPANY/Profit Sharing (Company-specific language)

• This isn’t handed down from Global.  This is a COMPANY program.

• It’s not all sunshine and butterflies. Training must be life-like, real, and relevant.  

Findings 

While well-intentioned and with a great vision, this organization was not yet in a position to launch a training program. 

Recommendation: 

My recommendation was to delay the culture training design and delivery to ensure ample time to identify the current state of their culture, clearly define the desired state, and develop a well-orchestrated plan to bridge the gap.  To appease their eagerness, we would begin a train the trainer process that would occur concurrently as we worked collaboratively to define their desired culture and design the culture training.

Learning Design 

Culture Train the Trainer

Because the trainers were frontline leaders with little or no classroom facilitation experience, I constructed a 10-session program to introduce them to the fundamentals of training. The intent was to provide them with training knowledge, skills, and abilities through modeling, classroom instruction, customized web-based learning modules, job aids, application, coaching, and feedback while simultaneously helping them understand their corporate values which would become the foundation of the culture training and building a peer-support network. This program culminated with my delivery of the Inspire and Transform Culture Training program. 

Inspire and Transform Culture Training

Based on the understanding that culture is the intersection of values and behavior, the Culture Training was built on and designed around, COMPANY’s corporate values: Human Company, Teamwork, Efficiency, Leadership, Innovation, and Flexibility. 

• <2 Hours Classroom Training

• Fieldwork and application will be assigned to deepen and reinforce classroom learning and discussion and further enhance the culture.

Deliverables

Outcomes

Both the train the trainer course and Inspire and Transform Culture Training were remarkably well received. The initial plan to pilot this program at only one facility was scrapped almost immediately as the leadership team recognized the potential impact and importance of this program. I was invited to design and deliver an introductory version of the Inspire and Transform Culture Training program to the executive team and the management team in advance of the rollout. This was an opportunity to help leaders better understand the critical role they play in reinforcing and supporting any training and particularly culture training. 

Recognizing the very limited potential of a course like this to achieve its intended purpose with no other talent development efforts to support it, I prepared a recommendation of next steps. To date, I've continued to partner with this client to support both their culture training and leadership development offerings. In addition, I continue to customize and lead frontline leadership efforts to model and reinforce company values and I've been asked to deliver a complimentary program for newly approved OJT trainers.