Culture change isn't quick… but the work is a solid investment.

Tim Steinbeck, CEO of GRE HERC Services, joins the Mastering Workplace Culture podcast for a raw, grounded conversation about what change really looks like when moving a blue‑collar workplace from siloed habits to a culture built on "STEAM" values: Safety, Trust, Accountability, Ethics, and Mutual Respect.

From shift‑to‑shift friction and accountability battles… to longtime employees leaving because "you can't pay me enough to be nice to these people"… this talk pulls back the curtain on what real culture transformation feels like inside a 24/7 operational environment.

If you lead people — especially on the plant floor, in facilities, or in field‑based work — you'll hear your world in this conversation.

⏱️ This Episode's Chapter Guide

00:00 – Intro

What Mastering Workplace Culture is all about — real talk, zero jargon.

00:31 – Meet Tim Steinbeck

46 years in energy, leading a major operational takeover in Minneapolis.

02:00 – Why the Culture Wasn't Working

COVID isolation, expectations drifting, communication slipping.

03:45 – Finding "Good Comes First"

The moment the culture reboot started making sense.

04:25 – Building STEAM (Safety, Trust, Accountability, Ethics, Mutual Respect) values

Creating values the plant team could actually use.

05:55 – The First Signs of Change

Frontline reactions, peer feedback, and slow, uneven progress.

07:47 – Leadership Buy‑In ("Are you crazy, Tim?")

How senior leaders responded when culture alignment became a priority.

09:00 – When Values Reveal Who Won't Stay

Some employees chose to leave — and why that mattered.

11:20 – Old Habits vs. New Expectations

Breaking behaviors built over decades.

14:00 – What's Working — And What Still Isn't

New hires, legacy teams, and continued pushback.

17:30 – Respect & Accountability

The issues leadership keeps running into.

20:20 – Post‑Pandemic Realities

Four siloed teams, weak handoffs, and baked‑in independence.

22:30 – Did They Ever Hit Pause?

How the team stayed committed even when things got tough.

24:00 – Frontline Frustrations

Why operators say they're not being heard.

26:00 – The Middle‑Manager Squeeze

Supervisors caught between pressure and values.

28:00 – Are People Enjoying Work More?

Tim's honest take on the culture shift so far.

30:40 – Big Leadership Transitions

New faces, new roles, and keeping momentum going.

39:00 – CEO Drop‑In Chats

Tim's plan to meet operators where they are.

41:50 – Lessons Tim Wishes He'd Known

Vulnerability, consistency, and starting sooner.

48:00 – What He'd Do Differently

More conversations, fewer gaps.

51:40 – Cabin Life!

Ice fishing, Minnesota summers, and family time.

54:30 – Final Thoughts

Safety, warmth, and staying connected.

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