As we close out 2024, I’ve been reflecting on our conversations about workplace culture and leadership while digesting SHRM’s newly released State of Global Workplace Culture report. The data validates many themes we’ve explored together while highlighting urgent challenges ahead.
The Disconnect Remains Real
One of the most striking findings is that executives are significantly more likely to rate their organization’s culture favorably (82%) compared to individual contributors (47%). This disconnect isn’t just a statistic – it represents missed opportunities for improvement and innovation. As we explored in “The Disconnect Between the Corner Office and Frontlines,” when leaders are out of touch with daily realities, they miss crucial perspectives that could transform their organizations.
What Drives Culture Forward (Or Holds It Back)
SHRM identified five fundamental drivers of positive workplace culture:
- Honest and Unbiased Management
- Civil Behavior
- Meaningful Work and Opportunities
- Open Communication
- Empathy
These align remarkably well with themes we’ve explored all year, from “Is Your Team Committed, or Just Compliant?” to “Beyond the Alpha Leader: Creating Systems for Emotional Intelligence.” The fundamentals haven’t changed – we just need the courage to implement them.
The Burnout Warning Signal
The report found that over a quarter of employees globally are experiencing burnout, with half of those actively looking for new jobs. This hits particularly hard with younger workers and those early in their organizational tenure. As we discussed in “Servant Leadership: Wielding the Power of Empathy for Success,” leaders must find ways to support their teams while maintaining their own wellbeing.
A New Challenge Emerges
As we look toward 2025, another critical theme has emerged: the growing urgency around knowledge transfer between generations. The SHRM data shows older generations demonstrate higher engagement levels (49% of Baby Boomers versus 28% of Gen Z), but younger workers bring essential perspectives on workplace culture and technology. This generational diversity could be our greatest strength – if we learn to harness it effectively.
In “Pigeonholing Your People Is Holding You Back,” we explored how organizations often overlook the multifaceted capabilities of their people. Now, as we face unprecedented demographic shifts, this challenge takes on new urgency. How do we capture irreplaceable operational wisdom while creating space for fresh perspectives?
Building Bridges for 2025
This emerging challenge has inspired our latest initiative: The Next Chapter Program. This focused 4-week sprint helps companies preserve critical knowledge from your in-house veterans, while creating environments that attract new talent with digital skills and different workplace expectations.
Through practical, immediate steps, we help organizations:
- Identify and preserve critical knowledge so that it can be shared and passed down
- Create environments where veteran wisdom shapes innovation
- Build cultures that attract and retain multi-generational talent
- Transform institutional knowledge into lasting competitive advantage
We’re limiting this to just three pilot partners through March 2025, as we believe in providing focused, high-impact support rather than trying to serve everyone at once.
The Path Forward
Whether or not you’re ready for a formal knowledge transfer program, the message is clear: 2025 will require new approaches to building and sustaining healthy workplace cultures. The organizations that will thrive are those that can honor their legacy while embracing change, preserve their core wisdom while welcoming new perspectives, and create environments where every generation can contribute their best work.
The gap between how leaders and employees experience organizational culture remains vast. Trust in leadership is fragile. Burnout threatens our most energetic talent. But we also know the solution – it lies in creating more human-centered workplaces built on honesty, civility, meaning, communication, and empathy.
As we close out 2024, I’m filled with gratitude for our shared journey and excitement for what’s ahead. The challenges are real, but so are the opportunities. Together, we can build workplaces that don’t just survive these transitions, but emerge stronger and more vibrant than ever.
With gratitude,
Leigh Sauter
P.S. If you’d like to learn more about the Next Chapter Program or schedule a discovery call, get in touch with me at leigh@glassballconsulting.com. Space is limited to three pilot partners, and I’d love to explore whether this could be a fit for your organization.