As a coach and facilitator, I often guide leaders and teams through bright listening exercises. Here are a few I find particularly effective (and I practiced them myself during a wonderful two-day workshop called “Scaling Intimacy” led by Jenny Sauer-Klein).

In today's dynamic business landscape, the significance of company culture cannot be overstated. However, crafting and sustaining a vibrant culture remains a challenge for many organizations. At the core of this challenge lies the pivotal role of leadership. Leaders wield considerable influence over organizational culture, shaping it through their actions, words, and attitudes.

On the day of my wedding, my friends presented my husband with a rather unconventional gift: a large binder wrapped in pink fur titled "The Fisherman’s Guide to Life with Candra." Familiar with me more intimately than anyone else, they believed that this "operations manual" could provide him with valuable insights into my quirks and preferences. From my early morning habits to my propensity for nodding off mid-conversation, from my penchant for costumes to my stubborn streak, they left no stone unturned.

During a recent conversation on The Business of Being Human podcast, I got to go deep with one of my favorite topics: the transformative power of workplace culture. I chatted with host Wendy Horng Brawer, who’s on the leadership team at Intune Collective, about how intentional culture can be an antidote to the “Great Resignation.” We talked about how articulating a clear mission and shared values inspires people to join, and stay with, a company. Why recognizing employees and letting their individual strengths shine is a game-changer for retention, productivity, and morale. And why working one-on-one with CEOs is the secret to making culture changes that last.

Here’s a bit more about some of the things we discussed.

My work situation has shifted recently, and I’m still getting used to the pros (amazing people, inspiring mission, exceptional culture) and cons (two words: compliance videos—plus new processes and red tape that I’m not used to) of the change. At the beginning of this transition, I was having sleepless nights and was anxious and pretty darn grumpy. I mentioned this over coffee with my husband, Matt. He smiled at me. “It’s just change, honey. It’s just change.”

Matt is right, of course. For every new project, client, or job we accept, we have to find our footing. Lots of questions may come up during a transition: Was saying “yes” the right decision? Does my discomfort mean I should have said no? Is this a good fit? Will I ever feel normal again?

Answering these questions, and many more, has helped me pinpoint some solid strategies for getting through this tricky time. In case you’re experiencing disequilibrium, too, I’m sharing five strategies that should help you make it through the turbulence of change.