An Ordinary Approach To Extraordinary Workplaces

Randy Grieser, CEO of the ACHIEVE Centre for Leadership and Workplace Performance, discusses how ordinary leaders can shape workplace engagement, productivity, and loyalty. While learning from high-profile executives is valuable, most leaders operate in smaller organizations or teams. Grieser's book, The Ordinary Leader, focuses on these everyday leaders and their significant impact within their spheres of influence.

The Concept of “The Ordinary Leader”

Grieser emphasizes the importance of continuous learning for leaders. He shares an anecdote about a CEO who declined to attend a leadership workshop, believing he had nothing left to learn. Grieser points out that this attitude sends a negative message to staff and highlights the need for humility and ongoing development. He also notes that most leadership literature targets large organizations, but the majority of leaders work in smaller settings. These direct leaders and supervisors are often the most influential factor in an employee's work experience.

Measuring Leadership Strength

Grieser identifies the presence of multiple leaders in medium and large organizations as a potential source of inconsistency. Departments with high engagement and productivity often have empowering, relational leaders, while those with high turnover and low morale typically have directive, mistrustful managers. The relationship between employees and their direct supervisors is critical to workplace happiness, engagement, and productivity. High levels of grievances and HR complaints are red flags indicating poor management.

The Role of the Physical Workplace

Grieser stresses the importance of designing workplaces that encourage natural interactions. For example, his organization has a single coffee station and water cooler for all four floors to promote cross-departmental connections. He believes that fostering these interactions is vital for building relationships and sparking creativity.

Culture and Technology

Grieser observes that technology can hinder workplace culture when overused for communication. He enforces a rule against long emails, encouraging face-to-face or phone conversations instead. Over-reliance on digital communication can erode relationships and reduce the quality of workplace interactions.

Financial Success vs. Workplace Culture

Some organizations achieve financial success despite poor workplace cultures, but Grieser warns that this is unsustainable. High staff turnover becomes a major stressor for leaders, and once employees reach a certain income level, they seek more than just financial rewards. A healthy workplace culture is a competitive advantage that can drive long-term success. Companies that prioritize culture are more likely to retain talent and achieve sustainable growth.

Grieser concludes that focusing on workplace culture not only improves employee satisfaction but can also enhance profitability and ensure organizational longevity.

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You can purchase Randy’s books, The Ordinary Leader and The Culture Question, and visit the ACHIEVE site for more information about leadership workshops and other resources.

Do you think ordinary leaders have the power to impact their organizations in a meaningful way? Join the conversation and leave a comment below.