Megan Bissett, an Organisational Psychologist and Co-Founder of Cword, is a pioneering force in the realm of workplace culture and climate. Specialising in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA), as well as trauma-informed workplaces, Megan's approach to organisational transformation is both innovative and impactful.
She firmly believes that businesses cannot genuinely achieve their ED&I goals without prioritising accessibility. In her words, "If companies value people, it doesn't matter what people come to the table with."
The Intersection of Culture and Climate
Megan's work revolves around two fundamental aspects of the workplace: Culture and Climate.
She distinguishes between the two by defining culture as the workplace atmosphere cultivated from the top down, and climate as the workplace culture experienced on the floor, which comes from the bottom up.
This dual focus allows her to address both the intended and the actual experiences of employees, ensuring a holistic approach to workplace improvement.
Measuring Engagement and Identifying Issues
Workplace engagement is a critical but often problematic area for many organisations. Gallup's 2023 report on global workplace wellbeing highlights the urgent need for organisations to prioritise employee mental health and wellbeing.
She highlights the persistently low levels of job satisfaction and engagement in the global workforce. The question she raises is crucial: Why is workplace engagement so terrible? Is it due to low job satisfaction or other underlying issues?
Through her work with Cword, Megan aims to measure both workplace culture and climate using advanced AI tools. These tools analyse all workplace policies to understand the desired culture and gather all chat materials within the company to measure connotations that range from happy and bubbly tones to negative sentiments.
This comprehensive analysis helps in identifying dips and problems on a daily basis and monitoring how changes can be affected over time.
Privacy and Trust in Data Analysis
One of the significant challenges Megan addresses is the issue of privacy. She emphasises that her goal is not to report all messaging to senior leaders but to gather the overall context without creating a fear of being watched.
Trust is paramount in this process. To ensure privacy, Cword's system anonymises all names and identifying features, adding an extra layer of security.
The analysis involves coding words by connotation and behaviours within the messaging. If people feel unhappy or frustrated, their words will contain undertones of these feelings. Shorter answers and non-engagement in company events or webinars are also key indicators used in the analysis. By understanding these nuances, companies can better identify and address the issues affecting their workforce.
Impact on ED&I and Accessibility Goals
Megan's work directly supports ED&I and accessibility goals by providing a clear, data-driven understanding of workplace climate and culture. By identifying and addressing issues in real-time, businesses can create more inclusive, equitable, and accessible environments.
Utilising this proactive approach ensures that all employees, regardless of their background or abilities, feel valued and included.
Enabling Better Management and Understanding
The overall aim of Cword is to enable employers to do their job better by providing a deeper understanding of their workplace climate and culture. For example, if a new manager's arrival leads to a continued drop in satisfaction levels, Megan's system can identify this trend early, allowing for timely interventions.
This level of insight is invaluable for fostering a more supportive and productive workplace.
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Megan Bissett is an Includability Ambassador specialising in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility and Trauma Informed Workplaces. Read more about her.
