How Effective Leadership Drives Positive Culture Change

Dubai Explorer March 30, 2023

Effective leadership is fundamental for creating a positive company culture that fosters collaboration, productivity, and employee engagement. Nowhere is this more vital than in the Middle East, where the workforce is diverse, dynamic, and rapidly evolving.

Organisations need more than just policies and procedures to build a positive culture. A thorough understanding of the cultural nuances and values that underpin a region’s business landscape is paramount. This is particularly true for HR in the Middle East, where organisations must navigate complex cultural dynamics and adapt to an ever-changing business environment.

In this article, you’ll learn the key characteristics of a positive company culture in the region and why effective leadership can help drive change. You’ll also pick up several practical strategies to create a culture of collaboration, respect, and open communication successfully and navigate the common challenges to achieving the goal.

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The Characteristics of a Positive Company Culture

A sense of collaboration, trust, and respect among employees and between employees and leadership characterises positive company culture in the Middle East. It’s a culture that values open communication, diversity, and inclusivity and encourages innovation and creativity.
A positive culture can benefit organisations in the Middle East by promoting employee engagement, reducing turnover and absenteeism, and fostering a sense of community and shared purpose among employees.

1. Collaboration

A company culture that prioritises collaboration encourages employees to work together, share knowledge, and support one another to achieve common goals. This characteristic is particularly important in the Middle East, where teamwork and social cohesion are critical.

2. Trust

A culture of trust is one in which employees feel confident that their leaders and colleagues have their best interests at heart. Trust is essential in the Middle East, where personal relationships and networks play an important role in business.

3. Respect

When employees are treated with dignity and fairness regardless of position or background, it means that respect is upheld in the workplace. This is fundamental in a place where cultural and social hierarchies can be complex.

4. Open communication

A culture of open communication fosters freedom of expression among employees who can express their opinions and ideas without fear of retribution. This characteristic is vital in the region where direct communication and face-saving are highly valued.

Effective Leadership Strategies for Driving Cultural Change in the Workplace

In the face of resistance to change, cultural differences, and lack of resources, effective leaders have the power to turn the tide.
Culturally competent leaders can build relationships of trust and respect with employees and create an environment that values diversity and inclusivity. This helps promote cross-cultural understanding and collaboration, which enhances productivity and contributes to a positive company culture.

To effectively create a positive company culture in the Middle East, you must adopt several strategies that promote collaboration, trust, respect, and open communication:

1. Establish clear values and goals

A common challenge for organisations worldwide is a lack of employee engagement. A Gallup poll states that only 36% of employees report being fully engaged at work. One of the cited reasons for this is the lack of clarity regarding the company’s purpose and direction.
Employees often need help understanding why they are working on specific tasks or why the organisation prioritises certain outcomes. This usually causes frustration, demotivation, and disengagement.

Plus, employees may feel like they are constantly putting out fires rather than moving forward. This can create a negative work environment where employees feel undervalued or unsupported.

To address these challenges, leaders can establish clear values and goals. They must also promote open communication and empower employees to take ownership of their work. This way, they can create a shared vision and purpose among employees.
Having a clear purpose helps employees understand how their work contributes to its success. This creates a sense of alignment and shared responsibility among employees.

2. Lead by Example

Leaders must model the behaviour they want to see in their employees, such as open communication, respect, and collaboration. Leaders who embody these values and behaviours set the tone for the organisation and create a culture that reinforces positive behaviour.

Interestingly, employees subconsciously take behavioural cues from their leaders. If leaders prioritise support and collaboration, employees are more likely to help their colleagues. If they are transparent and accountable, employees are more likely to follow suit and take responsibility for their own actions.

3. Empower Employees

Leaders should give employees a sense of ownership and autonomy over their work to increase their engagement and motivation. They can do this by providing opportunities for employees to take on new challenges, giving them decision-making authority, and allowing them to have a say in the organisation’s direction.

4. Encourage Feedback and Learning

Organisational culture is influenced by the experiences and perspectives of the employees who work in it every day. As a good leader, you should recognise that your employees are your richest data source for any cultural analysis.

Leaders should encourage open and honest feedback to gain helpful insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the workplace culture. Regular surveys and open communication channels help leaders understand the perspectives of their employees and identify areas for improvement.

It also helps if there are opportunities for employees to learn and grow professionally. This can be done through regular performance reviews, training programs, mentoring, and coaching to enable employees to improve their skills and feel like a valued part of the team.

5. Celebrate Success and Learn from Failure

Leaders should celebrate successes and learn from failures to promote a culture of continuous improvement. Celebrating successes helps employees feel valued and appreciated for their contributions while learning from failures helps the organisation avoid repeating mistakes and encourages experimentation and innovation.

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Lead the Way

Effective Leadership can build a positive company culture in the Middle East by fostering collaboration, trust, respect, and open communication.

Along with HR professionals in the region, leaders can also find helpful insights into building and sustaining a positive culture in the workplace from free HR white papers and industry blogs to expand their knowledge on how to lead their organisations better.