Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Evolving Workplace
A Practical Guide to Thriving at Work through
Highly Ambiguous Times
This can also occur in smaller, more Personal Effectiveness via ACCORD
localized offices, given the functional flex- It becomes clear that we need to equip our-
ibility that is usually required of workers selves with the right interpersonal tools to
in small organizations, which is often due guide ourselves through and work effec-
to budgetary constraints. Staff—especially tively in any given workday.
leadership staff—can be spread very, very ACCORD, a model comprised of six es-
thinly. So, where language and location sential elements for success in this arena,
are not in the laundry list of causal fac- is provided here. The model is designed cy-
tors, simple overwork combined with an clically, so that all elements can function
unavoidable inability to interact regularly synergistically and in an ongoing manner.
enough with the working group can regu- The harmonious aspect of the acronym
larly drive ambiguity. used is deliberately meant to dovetail with
Importantly, in workplaces of any size, the overall sense of positive productivity
dysfunctional organizational cultures where that permeates healthy workplace cultures.
employees feel as though they must always Each of ACCORD’s essential elements is
be on the defensive with colleagues and su- comprised of various personal traits, any of
pervisors alike can result in stunted, siloed which may or may not come naturally to ev-
environments where vital resources and in- eryone. Next, we will examine each element
formation go unshared. These may be the not only to better define it in the context of
most difficult kind of ambiguous environ- personal e ffectiveness, but also to see how we
ments in which to pursue effective work can best develop and enhance those elements
and desirable results. that did not come to us via our own DNA.