I walked past this restaurant the other day.

It made me laugh, and it reminded me of one or two crab shacks I’ve worked in.

If you wanted to create a workplace where bad behaviour, poor performance and people issues were more likely, what conditions would you create?

Intimidating anger.
Snappy interactions.
High pressure.
Low clarity.
Weak supervision.
Ineffective feedback.
Inconsistent standards.
Favouritism.
Unaccountable power.
Impossible expectations.
Exhausted people.
Envious competition.
People who feel that saying something is pointless or unwise.

None of those things guarantees a problem immediately, but they make them more likely and more serious.

When firms experience bullying, inappropriate behaviour, grievances, disciplinaries or regretted resignations, the focus tends to be on the individuals involved and managing the fallout.

Astute firms ask themselves:

What conditions made that outcome more likely? And then do something about it.

Because cultures are not built from isolated incidents.

They emerge from the environments people work in every day.

Good luck fulfilling your potential in an angry crab shack.

What workplace condition do you think most increases the risk of people issues?