It is a cliche in North America to deny culture — to say the only differences between us are our complexion and food. But culture is real. If it isn’t, why do you travel?
I’ve had to coach people from all over the world to adapt to Canadian culture. Every. Single. One was unprepared for the shock of North American culture. For the individual, I have a politically incorrect solution…
But for companies, I prescribe Good Morning Mondays . Below was written for a company all-hands meeting — three hundred people:
This is not a question for [CEO], but a challenge for you. Yes, you.
We have this new thing called Good Morning Mondays.
One of the biggest shocks starting at [Company] was that no one said Good Morning to us. First day, new intake, no one acknowledged us, no one looks up from their computer.
*Hands up people from other cultures who felt this way.*
Have you gone to an interview where no one looks up at you? All of a sudden, you don’t feel like working there anymore.
This one does not spark joy.
I’ve been thinking about ways to make the [Company] experience spark joy (like secretly pulling up the curtains when everyone is gone). **My apologies to the Data Processing team.
More face time, less Slack. Getting us moving, up and about, less sitting. Cultivating the three conditions required to make close friends (1. Proximity, 2. Repeated, but unplanned interactions, 3. A setting that encourages people to let their guard down and confide in one another).
More trust. An atmosphere, an emotion, a mood, a feeling.
So, every Monday, when we see someone, we stop, we acknowledge,
and say Good Morning. No awkward small talk. No “How are you? — Good.”Just a simple Good Morning. Can a simple Good Morning make a big difference? Why yes, yes it can.
