Culture on a team and at a company is important for creating a space where individuals want to stay. Self reflection in this area can help with building this culture and standards.

SELF-REFLECTION
The first portion of the exercise is to be done individually and is meant to be confidential. Answers are not meant to be shared with others. This is meant to be a self-reflection to see where you’re at within culture.

• Do you think you tend to add positivity, negativity, or a mix of both to the team culture?
• Are you giving recognition to your colleagues?
• Are you taking credit for work of your colleagues? Even little credits. Or are you correcting with proper recognition?
• Are you blaming individuals where mistakes of theirs weren’t made? Or are you taking accountability?
• Are you showing appreciation? Even for the smaller behind the scene tasks that keep things flowing.
• Are you providing support for your teammates? From an emotional side? From a time side if they need your support with explanations or accomplishing a last minute task?
• While everyone can have colleagues that become friends, are you treating your colleagues the same that may not fall under friendship?
• Are you being a team player? If not, are you waiting for your colleagues to address this before correcting on your own?
• Are you advocating for your colleagues?
• Are you creating a psychological safe space for your colleagues?
• Are you taking moments to get to know your colleagues?
• Do you think individuals walk on egg shells around you?
• Are you approachable? (e.g., receiving feedback or questions)
• Are you embracing differences on your team?
• Are you respecting boundaries others are setting? (e.g., working hours)
• Do your emotions tend to control you or you control your emotions? How does this impact your team?
• If someone makes a mistake, what is your first response? Is there anything you want to change about your response?
• Think of an example when your intent was different than the impact it made. (e.g., delivery of news or feedback) What did you learn from it?
• Do you tend to speak up when you see something unfair, or do you stay silent? How do you think your response influences others?
• Is your support for others the same across titles? (e.g., peer, direct report, direct leader, executive leadership)
• Other comments:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
After the self-reflection questions, dive into as a team discussion questions. Please be mindful of not forcing others to share what was revealed during their self-reflection.

• How impactful do you think culture is to your experience on the team and at the company?
• What can your company do to create certain standards with culture?
• What’s one action you plan to do moving forward?
• What do you think is challenging about culture?
• Do you think culture is part of your responsibility?

For more information about this material, email kmcclain@praeliscere.com or visit https://praeliscere.com/. Copyright Kathryn McClain.

Culture on a team and at a company is important for creating a space where individuals want to stay. Self reflection in this area can help with building this culture and standards.