Is Your Company's Culture Breathing Life or Spewing Toxins?

Written by Michel Fabode

Summary

Your company's culture is, in many ways, a reflection of your leadership style. Craft the culture with purpose by thinking about the experiences you want your team to have and molding the culture accordingly. Remember that culture is not static - it is a constantly evolving entity. Be proactive in nurturing it.

Have you ever noticed how you only think about the air when something calls attention to it? It may be allergens that trigger itchy eyes or even a familiar scent that reminds you of a particular time and place. The same goes for company culture. It often remains in the background until something brings it to the forefront, particularly when that something is toxic. Leaders then scramble to diagnose the issue, often pointing fingers at problems or even people who may (or may not) be to blame.

Successful leaders must remember to monitor their organization’s culture like we monitor air quality.

Imagine a busy day in which you go to the gym, grab a few items at the grocery store, and later that day, go to an exhibit at a local museum. The atmosphere in each place is distinct and reflects the people and activities endemic to those spaces. Yet, it isn’t just a collective reflection. It's a magnified mirror of leaders responsible for the activity in each place—their habits, strengths, and quirks.

The leaders at your local gym, grocery store, and museum set the standard for how the employees in each space engage (or don’t engage) with you, which will, in turn, influence your experience. Their leadership traits permeate the organization much like the aroma of a bakery wafts across a street—subtle yet influential.

Now, imagine a world where cafes feel like gyms and museums feel like concert arenas. Bizarre, right? Spaces have unspoken rules crafted meticulously over time. Leaders define these boundaries, curating specific rituals and experiences that shape the culture.  

So, what happens when leaders aren’t intentional or don’t realize they need to design a culture that will enable the team to thrive?

A company culture left unmonitored can devolve into chaos. And when the culture devolves, it can take a toll on the talent in the company that even the best team-building exercises may not be able to fix. As businesses evolve, their cultures must adapt to changing goals, markets, and challenges. This requires continuous nurturing and recalibration of the culture needed to ensure the people who enable the business to be successful can navigate those transitions.

As the leader, you must be an air quality expert ensuring that the environment remains optimized for the team to do its best work. So, do your part to ensure your team can breathe easily.