Leverage your culture
According to Curt Coffman, Culture Eats Strategy For Lunch, you have to truly understand your culture in order to leverage it to your best interests. Identify the strongest parts of your culture and what sustains it. What is it about your culture that will never change? In other words, what is your organization’s DNA?
Every organization can have the same things: buildings and equipment, technology, and financing. It’s what your people do with these things that makes the difference between you and your competitor. By identifying and capitalizing on your cultural specialties you can position your organization to take the lead.
Coffman says you can’t be hit and miss about paying attention to your culture. It has to be an ongoing process because it will prove to benefit your bottom line.
I remember a place I worked once that had a great culture of work hard, play hard. It had an entrepreneurial spirit and you were encouraged to think outside the lines. The president was very personable and kept us informed of issues going on with the company. I thought I had finally found a place to stay forever. Unfortunately, the company was purchased and a new president was brought in who was more conservative. Several of the management team left also. The underlying culture was frowned on and fear took its place. Pretty soon there was no more fun and gossiping replaced it.
I have also known other organizations where new leaders came in and the culture was so strong that the leader was not able to make any changes. The status quo, good or bad, was maintained.
In either case, it is important to understand what you are working with. You can’t leverage your culture if you don’t understand it. Once you do, you have opportunities if you choose to take them.
