Tom Langemo, RCC
Culture creates itself, absent a creator.
Culture is hard to define but we talk about it all the time. It's intangible but palpable. This tricky nature is exactly why it needs a creator to shape, train, and nurture it as it grows.
The power of culture shows up in everyday interactions, exposing the drivers and drainers of how we live life at work together. It requires regular discussions and debates about what's working and what isn't, what's propelling or hindering progress, and where does it matter most.
Culture isn't "soft." It strikes at the heart of a company's identity and coimpetitive value, the interactions between employees and customers, and the overall perception of the company.
Culture has teeth...and it has an appetite. Shape it. Train it. Make it beautiful.
Culture shows itself in three ways.
Identity
The purpose and promise the company makes to employees, customers, community, and shareholders. Examples:
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Purpose
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Vision
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Mission
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Values
Execution
The ways in which the purpose and promise are enabled through ways of working. Examples:
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Decision-making
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Teamwork
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Innovation
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Strategic Planning
Experience
The observations, perceptions, and feelings employees have while living life together at work. Examples:
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Trust
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Belonging
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Reputation
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Commitment
It's so easy to have a "set it and forget it" mentality about culture. We hope it figures itself out. But it won't. It needs to be shaped and guided. Whether it's about two teams working better together, a leadership team sorting through dynamics, two companies coming together (e.g., acquisition), or a company as a whole needing more fuel to function...reviewing identity, execution, and experience - as a cultural system - will create value.