Every organization has a culture, a way of doing things, a sense of “that’s how things are done here”. Obviously, the Ritz Carlton has a different culture than Motel 6, the Post office has a very different culture than UPS, and a startup has a different culture than a long established institution.
While size and resources available impact a culture, more than anything else culture is based upon attitude and collective world view. We do not attempt what we do not think is possible nor do we tend to persist in what is not rewarded.
A culture based upon the Golden Rule is one where the organization, collectively and individually, treats BOTH Customers and Team Members as they themselves would like to be treated. A Golden Rule culture is a culture of Respect and of Empathy, of Win/Win. A Golden Rule culture is not a wishy-washy, marshmallow soft, give away the store culture; quite the contrary. It is challenging to treat ALL stakeholders well simultaneously, to devise solutions that respect and honor the needs and wants of everyone involved in relative proportion to their stakes in both the process and the outcome. If it were easy, it would’ve already been done.
The good news is that a Golden Rule Company Culture starts with good intentions, with a desire to show respect and achieve a win-win. The essence of the Golden Rule is a good heart and that is within reach of all.
Closing Quotes:
“Do not do to others what angers you if done to you by others.” – Socrates
“Do unto others as they wish, but with imagination.” – Marcel Duchamp
“If your actions were to boomerang back on you instantly, would you still act the same?” – Alexandra Katehakis
“What you seek for others you find for yourself.” – Matshona Dhliwayo
As always, I share what I most want/need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier
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