How a family-like culture could be holding your organisation back

While many organisations are proud to strive for a harmonious culture that allows different personalities and work styles to thrive, this can have negative consequences when they describe the culture to be “like a family”.

Although every family is different, we typically don’t hold annual appraisals with family members or put them on performance improvement plans. Equally, we rarely speak up to family members when their behaviour is troubling us; at least not in a healthy way.

Employees avoiding crucial conversations is one of the biggest challenges facing organisations with a ‘family-like culture’. People fear that they might rock the boat and that they must choose to either be honest or respectful; but seemingly can’t speak up and do both. They also fail to consider the implications of not speaking up; what does their default future look like then?

This leads people to avoid raising concerns, big or small, because the emphasis is on everyone getting along. This can be detrimental when it stifles honest dialogue concerning behaviour or performance.