Real life, real story…
Last year a legal professional with 20+ years experience and a track record of success in multiple areas of law, law firms, and courts took a gig at a new firm.
The interview process focused heavily the firm’s culture. “Company first”, “trust”, “professionalism”, “teamwork”, “growth” and similar, positive terms were repeated again and again.
Early in the gig, on-the-job behaviors clearly didn’t align with these expectations. Personal agendas took precedence over company needs. No corrective action occurred for those that behaved out of bounds, and when these behaviors were brought up, the typical response was “Well that’s just Johnny being Johnny.” Trust? Professionalism? Teamwork? Not so much.
“Growth” was similarly absent. There was no organized approach to bringing this new talent up to speed. Some co-workers did a great job helping informally. Others actively avoided helping in any way, shape or form.
Over the year, despite the ongoing disconnects, frustrations and challenges, the employee worked hard, learned fast, and delivered on all expectations. She received no substantive performance feedback. Her first yearly performance review took less than 15 min. She received a nice pay increase but no meaningful feedback – positive or negative.
Almost exactly a year after starting, she set a meeting with the HR Manager; to tender her resignation. She then informed relevant others so they heard it straight from her. Most were shocked. Many regaled her with overwhelming positive praise and great sadness that she was leaving. Her management chain called her in, asking what they could do to keep her. (This was the first time in a year that they had any discussion with her beyond short term, task oriented minutia.)
They lost a great talent because the PIPAs (persons in positions of authority) failed to focus on or attend to culture – the realities of what’s really happening daily.
People matter.
Culture matters.
Ignoring either is a recipe for disaster.
Remember – culture isn’t what posters on the wall advertise. It is what people DO daily.