In the latest Transformational Leadership TV episode, Paul Brassfield shares how the discovery of Transformational Tables transformed Franklin Furniture’s culture to greatly improve employee retention.
Paul was responsible for employee development at Franklin Furniture in Tupelo, Mississippi. He is a true transformational leader who seeks to make an impact not only in his organization, but also in his community, family, and among his neighbors. Transformational leaders not only identify problems, but they also take action to address them.
The Problem: Employee Retention
Paul Brasfield was asked by Franklin Furniture to assist with employee retention. Despite having a great team, the company was struggling to retain employees.
As Paul interviewed new hires, he discovered that many had left their previous jobs due to poor leadership or a negative work environment.
This realization prompted him to ensure that Franklin Furniture’s organizational culture was aligned with an environment that people wanted to be a part of, where people would be eager to join the team.
Shifting Organizational Culture
To shift the culture, Paul started looking for resources and came across the Transformation Tables program through Transformation Tupelo, a community program in collaboration with the Maxwell Leadership Foundation.
This program helped Franklin Furniture shift its culture and environment to a place where people wanted to belong and where people were excited to be. It was not about money, but about creating an environment that people wanted to be a part of.
Paul discovered that salary increases were not necessarily the solution for retaining employees. Many employees desired to work in a great environment and to feel like they are making a difference.
The Role of Transformation Tables
Essentially, transformation is about changing the entire culture and environment to think differently and look at things with a new perspective.
Transformation Tables was a program where six people at a time came together to assess themselves with different values. It was a place of transparency, where people were challenged to become a better version of themselves, and where accountability was key. Internal motivation to accomplish goals was the driving force behind this program.
With a company size of about 900 people, it may seem like it would take a lifetime to go throughout the entire organization six people at a time, but Franklin Furniture executives were willing to invest time and resources to help with the culture transformation.
Organizational Impact on Franklin Furniture
The Transformation Tables program helped Franklin Furniture shift its culture and take their organization to another level. It was a tool that helped individuals become intentional about making changes that would help them grow, and this had a positive impact on the company. The program created a culture of accountability, and it resulted in a better version of the company.
To shift an organization’s culture, Paul Brassfield highly recommends getting people involved in the Transformation Table process because the use of programs like this can help shift organizational culture and create a place where people want to belong.
