Culture is 10.4 times more likely to contribute to attrition than compensation.

Organizational psychologist Angela Howard, founder of Call for Culture, shared that statistic while on stage at the 2024 Women in Retail Leadership Summit, hosted by Women Leading Travel & Hospitality’s sister brand, Women in Retail Leadership Circle. Howard took the stage during the event to teach executive-level women how to do workplace culture differently.

“Culture isn’t something that just happens,” Howard said. “We can’t speak it into existence.”

Howard’s company, a workplace culture consultancy, focuses on the intersection of social impact and workplace culture. She said the social contract around work is changing, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, Howard has researched the business case for why an inclusive, healthy workplace culture is in a company’s best interest.

According to Gallup, creating a healthy workplace culture can result in:

  • 22 percent higher profitability;
  • 21 percent higher productivity;
  • 10 percent higher customer ratings;
  • 65 percent lower turnover; and
  • 41 percent lower quality defects.

“Think about what’s at stake if we don’t do this,” Howard cautioned the audience.

A key part of Howard’s six-phase methodology for changing workplace cultures is the invitation. Rather than the change coming directly from the top of your organization, Howard suggests leaders invite the entire company into the conversation about the change you’re looking to make.

“You’re going to need to empower your full team to activate this change,” advised Howard. “It cannot sit stagnant at the top of your organization or within a particular team. The invitation is a way to incorporate and elicit all voices into the process.”