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View the recording of the Lab's Culture Survey Town Hall from Fall 2024 to learn about survey highlights
Every Berkeley Lab employee has the power to convert
survey insights into actions that further strengthen the Lab’s culture.
Try one of the suggested actions listed below to help
build connection and community at Berkeley Lab.
Every Berkeley Lab employee has the power to convert
survey insights into actions that further strengthen the Lab’s culture.
Try one of the suggested actions listed below to help
build connection and community at Berkeley Lab.
Menu of Actions
Menu of Actions
The Menu showcases the core set of Labwide (Structural & Behavioral) activities that gives you, as an employee, the opportunity to consider trying them with your group or team. The 6 individual actions & practices are designed to be easy-to-implement by any team member or team leader in their own sphere of influence at the Lab. Download the Full FY25-26 Menu of Actions Here
Instructions
Instructions
Select an Action: Select an activity from the list below that you want to try with your team or group.
Add Your Name: Add your name and group/division to the list to collaborate with others across the lab who are going to try the same activities.
Share Your Feedback: After you've tried the activity, share your feedback and lessons learned with the Organizational Stewardship Office. Your feedback will help us understand the usefulness of these actions in different contexts across the Lab and may motivate and inform broader systematic implementation.
Questions? If you have questions about any of the actions or would like help implementing them, please contact us at: OEGroup@lbl.gov
Connection & Community
Connection & Community
Incorporate Connection-Building Into Existing Meetings
Incorporate Connection-Building Into Existing Meetings
Teams & organizations that create opportunities for social connection and community-building drive performance outcomes and also help improve overall employee health and well-being. Utilize the following tools to intentionally bring these elements into at least ONE RECURRING meeting, forum, and gathering that you lead, attend, and/or influence:
Play On Purpose Library - Central Login: culture@lbl.gov // pw: stewardship! Divisional or Individual Accounts available upon request
This action impacts:
Set Up a ‘Reciprocity Ring’
Set Up a ‘Reciprocity Ring’
Social capital, rooted in reciprocity, enhances productivity, learning,and trust, especially in hybrid work environments. Research shows that wide spread reciprocity strengthens organizations. A “Reciprocity Ring’or “Board of Strategic Advisors” exercise for any group is a great way to source advice from multiple perspectives very quickly in a meaningful way. It is well suited for use in a meeting, and is different and revealing every time.
Board of Strategic Advisors Exercise
This action impacts:
Interested in trying one of these activities?
Add your name to the list to connect with others doing the same.
Menu of Actions Sign Up List
Have you tried one of these actions?
Share your experience and lessons learned - we'd love to hear about it! Share Your Experience
Opportunity for Growth & Innovation
Opportunity for Growth & Innovation
Organize Peer-to-Peer Masterclasses
Organize Peer-to-Peer Masterclasses
Peer relationships are key to positive experiences at the Lab, fostering learning and innovation. Gather your team to discuss the questions below and organize rotating peer-led master classes or learning salons. Secure a regular meeting space or host sessions via Zoom. For institutional support, connect with the Office of Organizational Stewardship to align with broader knowledge-sharing initiatives.
In my work, what (i.e., skill, task, activity) produces the highest ratio of personal satisfaction compared to the amount of time I spend on it?
What is a unique ability I have cultivated in my work that I notice others are not able to do at the same level?
This action impacts:
Try FeedForward Fridays
Try FeedForward Fridays
Constructive feedback is essential for learning and performance, and employees value it more than organizational norms may suggest. Try implementing a practice like Feedback Fridays (alternative name: FeedForward Fridays, to use name to reinforce a learning and future orientation), where team members gather for the explicit purpose of exchanging developmental feedback in group or 1:1 sessions. Consider a biweekly Friday meeting and involve your manager if possible to reinforce a culture of growth.
FeedForward Fridays Instructions & Sample Agendas
Set norms & expectations at the outset
Establish shared framework for giving & receiving feedback
Leverage real-time expert guidance to refine feedback approach
Organizational Case Study: Ethena (modify for local needs)
This action impacts:
Interested in trying one of these activities?
Add your name to the list to connect with others doing the same.
Menu of Actions Sign Up List
Have you tried one of these actions?
Share your experience and lessons learned - we'd love to hear about it! Share Your Experience
Actions for Managers
Actions for Managers
Assign an Onboarding Buddy
Assign an Onboarding Buddy
Onboarding at Berkeley Lab, whether to a new project team, to a new role, and/or to the organization as a whole, is a key to fostering belonging, easing imposter syndrome, and ensuring knowledge transfer.
Research shows that assigning onboarding buddies outside ofdirect collaborators boosts satisfaction, performance, and team cohesion.
This action impacts:
Engage in Development Dialogues
Engage in Development Dialogues
LBNL survey respondents highlighted a need for more career development discussions and actionable feedback.
Managers can address this by adopting a coaching mindset and scheduling bimonthly or quarterly Development Dialogues.
These conversations strengthen rapport and provide insight into employees’ needs and goals.
This action impacts:
Interested in trying one of these activities?
Add your name to the list to connect with others doing the same.
Menu of Actions Sign Up List
Have you tried one of these actions?
Share your experience and lessons learned - we'd love to hear about it! Share Your Experience
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