Stay visible
Bayada Nurses is now in the stage that Baiada terms the “alignment phase,” an ongoing effort to ensure that Bayada Nurses’ employees are constantly walking in step with The Bayada Way.
He continues to maintain multiple communication channels. Some are higher-profile, some are more subtle, but all of them help to reinforce the culture.
At the high-visibility end of the spectrum, Baiada puts himself in front of his employees whenever possible.
“Nothing can beat a company meeting for face-to-face engagement,” he says. “You can stand at the door and say hello to everyone that walks by. It’s better than coming in through the back door, saying a few words and getting off the stage. You need to find opportunities to meet people, talk to them, share with them and support them. Secondly, you should write to them. Send them an e-mail, send them a written letter, but make it personal. Then, you need to encourage everybody in the organization to do the same. Stay in touch, listen closely when you communicate and show empathy.”
Little gestures can also help reinforce the culture in a big way. Those who demonstrate the culture in their day-to-day work are rewarded through an assortment of programs, including prize contests, personal recognition, paycheck inserts, even something as small as a thank-you note.
“I’ve gotten compliments back from employees who like the messages in their paychecks,” Baiada says. “Sometimes it might just be a little quote from a publication. But it helps build that trust with employees. They want to know and be able to trust that we as managers believe in the same things that they do. If your employees don’t trust leadership, things can fall apart in a hurry. Building that trust through your actions is really important in any organization because everybody is skeptical.
“In the end, you have to communicate the principles of your culture with honesty and consistency. It has to be honest and it has to be relevant to what you’re trying to accomplish. You have to frequently and consistently convey the same message over and over. And you have to have integrity — you can’t say one thing and then do another. You also have to listen. Listen to feedback, listen to whether they understand what you’re saying. Communication has to go two ways.”
How to reach: Bayada Nurses, (856) 231-1000 or www.bayadanurses.com
