Ten Culture-Embedding Mechanisms (Part 1 of 4)
Repeat after me: “My organization’s culture is an outcome of what we collectively believe about the organization and how we behave alongside each other as a result of those beliefs.” So, what do you believe about your organization? Over the course of this blog and three to follow, brief introductions to ten culture-embedding mechanisms will […]
Weathering an Organization’s Culture
“There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” I grew up in northern Minnesota. I’ve lived in the upper Midwest, northern California (Sonoma County), and southern California (San Bernardino mountains). I now live in Minnesota again. I’ve tent camped at 62° below zero and 112° above. Whether it’s high-end gear from an […]
Claymation Culture
The way your organization runs is a lot like the artform of clay animation, or claymation. As a leader, this makes you an animator. Other terms for this art form are “stop-motion” or “stop-action” animation. Either term may seem counterintuitive to what is expected of a leader…to keep things moving…ideally in the most helpful direction, […]
The Double-Edged Sword of Virtual Teams
Remember when, before video conference calls were the norm, the team was in the same room and we could clearly see the eye rolls, the understanding smiles, the two people in the corner exchanging glances and the boss getting increasingly agitated? Back then there were abundant visual cues that alerted us to more going on […]
Healthy Accountability… What a “Sick” Idea!
It was not a happy place to work. The mission was clear and meaningful. The people were good-hearted and good at what they did (for the most part). The customers were loyal…except for when they were disappointed, again. Something had to change. So, as the new guy in charge of operations, programs, and services, I […]
Leadership Transition
Leaders prepare their organizations for their own succession.
Diagnosing Dysfunction: Lack of Leadership
If you cannot seem to find enough leaders in your organization it may be a signal that you have a dysfunctional culture.
Is Our Culture Dysfunctional?
If you can’t name your organization’s core values your culture is dysfunctional.
What’s Your Story?
Realigning a dysfunctional cultural narrative is very difficult. The best way to approach this is directly.
Wired for Feedback
Words matter. There is life and death in the power of the tongue. We humans are wired for feedback. Not any kind of feedback, but feedback that is three-fold. According to the author of “Thanks for the Feedback” each of us needs appreciation, coaching and evaluation. Each serves a purpose and satisfies different needs. Each […]