Culture is not a given, it is what is created

Culture is not a given, it is what is created

Yes, it is possible to create the culture you want!

To begin with, you start with the Vision you have for the organization: is it truly inspiring! Is it larger than what is currently thought possible? Does it grab your attention, stir up your emotion, makes you want to act? Most of all, does it feel intuitively right?

Next, are your Organizational Values promoting the behaviour towards the Vision? Does it act as a beacon guiding actions  which are exemplary towards the fulfilment of the vision? Our values come from our life experiences, and shapes the DNA on how we ‘act and feel’ about things around us.

To this, the next missing piece is the Strategy, with which we hope to compete in the market place. It shapes our performance ambition: our appetite for growth and sustainability.

Once you are clear on all of the above, then it is critical to get alignment to these on all systems and work processes that are present in the organisation, and would include:

• Management Review and Decision making Processes
• Talent Agenda and priorities process in place
• Work systems that allow for approvals and flow of goods and services
• Rewards and recognition Process
• Performance Management Systems
• External and Internal Communication Process
• Internal engagement processes. 

 Too often much work is done on the bullet points on a standalone basis. While benchmarking and best in class practices are useful to gain insights, it is more relevant to create designs that are bespoke for purpose within. It is only when there is deep consonance and alignment, that the appropriate winning culture is enabled. 

The role of senior leadership is to allow for challenge within the organisation and to be able to uphold the values, despite adversity. How it acts, each moment, will either reinforce or rubbish. There is no substitute to 'walk the talk'.