Companies expend untold energy building culture—defining their values, revamping their office space, organizing holiday parties and volunteer outings. And yet many managers don’t seem to realize that while company culture can be really hard to build, it’s incredibly easy to destroy. And you may unknowingly ruin it in just two steps.
Emailing While You’re on Vacation Is a Quick Way to Ruin Company Culture
It sends a powerful signal.
December 05, 2017
Summary.
Companies expend untold energy building culture. And yet many managers don’t seem to realize that while company culture can be really hard to build, it’s incredibly easy to destroy. Just go on vacation, and then continue working like you never left. It is common practice for American managers. But the effects on company culture are terrible: an analysis by Project: Time Off found that in companies where it’s unusual to unplug, employees are less engaged, less committed to the organization, and twice as likely to be looking for another job. So instead, try this two-step approach: go on vacation. And then trust your team to handle the business while you’re away.
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HBR Learning
Leading People Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Leading People. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
What you need to know about being in charge.