Danna Beal has worked for a lot of service companies–CPA and healthcare practices–observing how people get along with each other and how much blame and ego drama creates problems for the workplace. She says, “In January of 2000, I awakened in the night, and literally heard it was time to do this work. There is so much dysfunction and pain and suffering in the workplace.” Since then, Danna has shared ways to unravel the problems and heal the workplace culture through speaking, coaching and writing articles and books. The most recent, The Illuminated Workplace, Shining Light on Workplace Culture, reveals the path for rebuilding relationships and ending fear, pain, and suffering in the workplace.
Everyone is Part of the Culture
Danna says that no matter how big your corporation is, “the most important thing is to ask people what they want. People need to feel heard and if they don’t feel heard, it doesn’t matter what you tell them to do.” She says that even if it’s an online anonymous survey, people need to be given a voice. That also means that managers need to show an affinity for the people, not just the profits.
On the other hand, employees need to know that they also make up the culture. She compares the culture to a lake and says employees aren’t just visiting it, “they are part of the waters.” And she explains that everyone has power in the realm where they operate, and relationships at all levels are important. She says she has noticed that people can get triggered by someone else and can cause a lot of chaos. Saying something positive to someone, being grateful and bonding with one another on a level beyond that of your shared employment gives you the power to heal the workplace culture.
The Illuminated Workplace
Often leaders ask, “What can we do to fix the culture?” Danna advises them to begin looking within and ask instead, “What can I do to be the kind of leader that people feel comfortable with?” She says that she reads about steps to create a better culture and that none of them are wrong. But in her opinion, it starts with the leaders having the courage to see their own fears and weaknesses. When people are afraid, they pretend to act like the role depicted on the company’s organization chart. Danna says, “They are so afraid of being exposed that they’re pretending, and it causes this whole drama.” She calls fear the biggest problem in the workplace.
That’s just a few ideas expressed in her most recent book. Danna also looks deeply at the core of human behavior, from the worst to the best and why we do the things we do. In the environment of the workplace, everyone has responsibility for the outcome, good or bad. She says that relationships is the whole point of her new book. “It’s about rebuilding relationships by honoring the spirit in ourselves and others, regardless of what level you’re at. “When we can replace fear with trust and compassion for one another, then everybody can be restored to their safe, authentic, greatest self, and then you get a good working culture.”
Listen to or watch this conversation to learn why it’s more important than ever to heal the workplace culture in today’s competitive environment. Check out Danna’s website, dannabeal.com for more information about Dann’s speaking and consultation services. And be sure to buy and read her new book, The Illuminated Workplace. If you’re hoping to learn more about workplace culture, or examine your own behavior, it’s insightful observations and guidance will make it one of your favorite books–soon to be released as an audiobook.
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