Results

We looked at a number of workplace culture programs, but chose The Culture Doctor as the program is tailored around the beliefs and values of your own staff. The other programs were too generic and prescriptive. We didn’t want to impose someone else’s values - ‘Do it the Dupont way’ - we wanted to do it the Newcastle Airport way. Tony Watt’s program was also systematic, rigorous, and importantly, repeatable.

One of my goals as CEO is to make Newcastle Airport a more commercial enterprise - workplace culture is critical in making this happen. We engaged The Culture Doctor to help staff examine their own beliefs and values, and to work out how these align with management’s values. We then came up with scoring metrics to hold ourselves accountable to making change happen - both management and staff.

The staff quickly came on board the program - particularly when they heard their own words coming back at them.  We’ve found that management and staff aligned on many of the areas that needed to improve. With the staff being consulted and playing such a big part in the program, they felt they had buy in to where the business was heading.

With the Culture Doctor’s help, we’ve improved our workplace culture to a ‘gold’ standard. The difference in the staff is palpable. The staff themselves notice... people are happier, morale is higher and we’re sure this will flow on to the customer experience as well.

I’d highly recommend this course - it’s tailored, cost effective and it has made a tangible difference to our workplace culture.

Peter Cock
CEO, Newcastle Airport

I have worked with Tony Watt for around ten years. We initially engaged Tony to project manage the construction, course development and recruitment of key management for our new Training Facility, the Tiddalac Centre of Learning at Helidon. It was imperative the centre - from the selection of staff, creation of the curriculum, down to the interiors - was authentic to our company. Tony managed to create an induction centre that aligned to the core values of our company.

The centre was for internal use only, and staff attending could see that the organisation had invested in them. Staff attended the courses and in doing so, were immersed in the culture and beliefs of the organisation. Everyone - senior lawyers, cleaners and paralegals - was treated the same. This wasn’t a hotel, and staff had to pick up after themselves. We found that some staff actually de-selected themselves if they felt their values and beliefs weren’t the same as the company’s. You end up with a team that works cohesively together, and in the same direction.

Our only failing in this was not using this approach in the recruitment of our staff - I think this would allow us to cherry pick the stronger candidates. To me, aligning the team’s cultures and beliefs is fundamental to the underlying success of an organisation. The Culture Doctor’s approach to improving workplace culture is invaluable.

Steve Roche

Founder, Shine Lawyers

The team had lost its way, people weren’t working well together and morale was low. We engaged Tony Watt to help us identify not just the areas of dysfunction, but also a clear benchmark of our team’s values and beliefs and a way to improve our culture.

The team really warmed to Tony and most saw a huge amount of value in what he was doing. Tony really understands people. He knows how to read them, he’s compassionate and understands the critical importance of having a team that is truly aligned with the direction of the business.

Instead of giving us a big, glossy report, Tony gave us a clear pathway to improve our culture. The strategies were practical, simple and easy to implement. We turned our culture from a ‘silver’ to a ‘gold’ and we’ve seen tangible results. There was a marked improvement in productivity - people now work well together, it’s solidified the team. Importantly, each member of the team knows the values of the team itself and the organisation. Knowing our values and beliefs has become a reference point to a lot of other growth we’ve been able to achieve in other areas of the business. It makes a huge difference when your team is happy to come to work...it really impacts every area of the business.

Paul Stadhams

CEO, Australian Organic

We had already identified a values set for our company to inform and drive our strategy. We engaged The Culture Doctor to work with our staff to develop the team’s alignment with these values - and particularly to look at what it meant to live out those values. We wanted to have a team whose actual behaviours reflected the values of the company.

Tony Watt’s focus on getting the team to determine what their behaviours should be was what sold his program to us. We believed it was crucial to have buy in from the staff - they’re the ones at the coal face so they are the ones that should be driving this.

Upon completion of the program, we saw an immediate improvement in staff morale - the vibe of the place was positive, the way people spoke to each other and worked together improved. It wasn’t long before we also saw an increase in productivity.

There are many change management programs out there spruiking improved staff engagement as the core driver of success. However, I think improving the team’s engagement only goes so far - there are highly engaged teams out there doing stuff that’s not of benefit to the company. The real value for the business is when the actual behaviour of staff changes to align with the team’s values. It’s when staff start becoming aware of their behaviour, and modifying it, that the business really takes off.

The Culture Doctor’s program stands apart because it achieves both levels of culture change...that’s why it’s so effective.

Des Wheeler

Owner, Maverick Biosciences

We engaged Tony Watt as we felt there were a number of issues with our culture. A few members of staff were behaving in a non-productive way, which was influencing the whole team.  There was a whole melting pot of issues. We weren’t managing it well.

Normally you get a HR boffin who comes in and implements a generic change management program based around some ‘expert’s views. You sit back and wait for the collective ‘eye roll’. This program is different. It works because it’s based on our team’s beliefs and values. The program also fosters accountability - the management and the team holds each other to account. If something’s not working, we all go back to the behaviours the team set for themselves...it’s self-perpetuating. Furthermore, this program is meant to be revisited. The last thing you want is some prescribed program that’s set and forget - they just don’t work.

The Culture Doctor’s system of Standards is a powerful visible representation of the health of your workplace culture. A lot of people are visual learners - and the 3 tiered system is clear and easy to understand. It also provides a clear picture of how everything is going...you know which areas are doing well, and which ones need improvement.

This program has made all of us realise how critical team culture is to a company’s success - particularly achieving a cohesiveness between the team and management. Our culture has turned around...it’s great that we’re now heading in the same direction.

Ben Blemings
Previous Maintenance Engineer, Mechanical Services, Churchill Abattoirs

After working with Tony Watt, I’ve gone from being naive (I wasn’t a cynic, just didn’t know) around the benefits to an organisation of getting your culture right, to a true advocate.

I would like to use the analogy of a potter’s wheel when talking about the benefits of the Cultural Health Check program. When you’re working with the clay, it looks smooth and flawless. As soon as you wash it however, the imperfections are revealed. You realise there’s a layer that has been under the surface all along...you just haven’t clarified it.

Defining the core values of our company has been hugely beneficial. Having a set of values gives you a talking point...you become very clear about the kinds of behaviours you’d like to see in your people. If someone displays behaviour that doesn’t align with the company’s values, you can use the core values as a talking point. Mostly, we found that staff that didn’t align with their values left of their own accord.

The Culture Doctor Standards is also a great measuring tool. We know where the culture is at - what needs to be improved etc. It’s easy to measure something when you have a standard to measure it by.

Our staff aren’t running on their own agendas anymore. We now have a crew of people pulling in the same direction. Everyone’s much happier, more productive and they work together as a team. Tony Watt is a great communicator; he understands his customers. I’d highly recommend The Culture Doctor.

Mark Drayton

Managing Director

Integrated Reliability Solutions

When we engaged Tony, our business had a high staff turnover, and higher than industry average staff absenteeism. We knew we had good people, but we were struggling to get the most out of them...and keep them! Tony came in with his Cultural Health Check, and early scepticism was quickly replaced with a staff that was committed, enthused and engaged. Tony is consultative, and I think his approach works because it was the staff who drove the journey.

Our culture has completely turned around - in fact, we’ve been awarded The Culture Doctor’s ‘gold’ standard. We have a completely different business. At our busiest, we had 29 staff. We’ve now virtually halved our staff - but our productivity levels have soared and our turnover is greater. Staff turnover and absenteeism is very low. Our staff are more productive, engaged and they actively look for ways to do things more efficiently. They like coming to work!

You can spend time on other areas of your business - continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, but nothing works without getting your culture right. If you want a successful, sustainable business - engage with your people, learn what drives them, then align their beliefs with yours...then watch your business take off.

You can’t put a price on the work Tony does.

Michael Kennedy

Owner, Kennedy’s Classic Aged Timbers

I’ve found the program to be hugely beneficial when interviewing potential staff. When you’re employing someone, you’re not just filling a void; you’re looking to gain traction by employing someone who’s going to help you grow the business and move forward.

The Cultural Health Check has enabled me to identify the values of a potential employee and whether those values align with ours. I’d say it works in 90% of cases - which is significant since the electrical industry typically has a high staff turnover. Employing the right people upfront has saved me a huge amount of time and money.

We are a small team of ten electricians who are all customer facing - even one ‘toxic’ person can have a major impact on the team’s morale; but also can impact on our customers’ experience.

I’m proud to say we’ve achieved the Gold Standard in the Cultural Health Check program. As we all align in our values, we’re close to where people’s minds are at...we know that we’re all working together in the same direction. It’s enabled the business to grow steadily - and it’s created a culture in which everyone’s happy to be at work.

Michael Scholz

Owner, Scholz Electrical

I’ve worked at a number of organisations that have assessed and used The Culture Doctor’s Cultural Health Check program: Newcastle Airport, Norfolk Island Administration and Port Stephen’s Council. I also have experience with other organisational change programs.

I’d have to say The Culture Doctor stands apart not only for its cost effectiveness, but also for the fact the program requires less effort from staff...there’s less downtime. The results are clear however - there’s a huge benefit in aligning staff and management values - achieving a shared understanding. I’ve seen staff morale improve, and the number of staff complaints drop significantly.

Tony Watt’s program gives staff a voice - anonymously - so you find staff are completely honest and open. I haven’t found any other program that identifies the shared values of an organisation. It’s also a program that has a clear science behind it...it’s easy to implement and there are innate measurement tools built in. You can track how your workplace culture is going over time. From my experience, this program achieves a tangible return for the business - I’d highly recommend it.

Peter Gesling

Mentor, Coach, Company Director