Who Are You Hiring? The Hidden Challenge of Building a Strong Team

Lately, I’ve been talking with frustrated leaders. The frustration? Their teams aren’t living up to the ethos of the organization—the culture, values, and work ethic they’ve worked so hard to establish.

Instead, they’re noticing a shift:
🔹 Employees who seem entitled rather than invested.
🔹 A lack of accountability and ownership.
🔹 A disconnect between the vision and how the team operates daily.

But here’s the thing: this isn’t just a “bad hire” problem. It’s a leadership and culture problem.

The Generational Divide: Are We Speaking Different Languages?

If you’re struggling with a team that doesn’t seem to share the same grit, resilience, or work ethic as past generations, you’re not alone.

🔹 Millennials & Gen Z value work-life balance, mental health, and purpose-driven work—they won’t tolerate toxic cultures, outdated leadership styles, or “just do what I say” management.
🔹 Older generations were often taught that grit, resilience, and loyalty to a job were non-negotiable—work came first, and you earned your place over time.

Studies show that 93% of Gen Z employees say an employer’s culture influences their decision to stay at a company (Deloitte, 2023). Meanwhile, millennials make up the largest portion of the workforce, and they are twice as likely as previous generations to leave a job due to a toxic work environment (Gallup, 2023).

The problem? If leadership doesn’t bridge the gap, frustration builds on both sides.

Culture, Expectations, and Accountability: Finding the Balance

Here’s where things get real. Your culture is only as strong as the behaviors you allow.

Leaders must set clear expectations while creating a psychologically safe environment where employees can succeed.

✅ Set the Norms Early – People can’t be held accountable for expectations they were never given. Be explicit about values, work ethic, and what success looks like.

✅ Compassionate Leadership ≠ No Accountability – Supporting your team doesn’t mean excusing poor performance. Hold people accountable with clarity and kindness.

✅ Psychological Safety Matters – Employees won’t take ownership or push themselves if they fear making mistakes or being criticized. A culture of trust, feedback, and learning builds resilience and commitment.

The Hard Truth: Who Are You Hiring?

When a team isn’t aligned with the organization’s mission, it’s time to look inward.

➡️ Are you hiring for culture fit AND culture add?
➡️ Do your onboarding processes reinforce expectations and values?
➡️ Are you creating a psychologically safe space where feedback, learning, and accountability exist in harmony?

If your team isn't meeting the standard, it’s not just about who you hired—it’s about the culture you’ve reinforced (or failed to reinforce).

The good news? This can be fixed.

✅ If you’re struggling with a disengaged team,
✅ If you need help balancing compassionate leadership with accountability,
✅ If you want to create a culture where expectations are clear, and teams are thriving...

💡 Let’s Talk. I work with leaders to help them build strong, engaged, and high-performing teams—without sacrificing psychological safety.

📅 Book a consultation or a team training today

#LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #PsychologicalSafety #TraumaInformedLeadership #WorkforceTrends