Sometimes I worry about things like climate and culture. In my areas of expertise, many people bandy around words like "professionalism", and yet fail to credit sources, point fingers, choose not to look closely at context, and quickly pass judgement on organizations, departments, and individuals. I don't know what the solution is, but this quote from "Rework" is certainly relevant.
You Don't Create Culture
Instant cultures are artificial cultures. They're big bangs made of mission statements, declarations, and rules. They are obvious, ugly, and plastic. Artificial culture is paint. Real culture is patina.
You don't create a culture. It happens. This is why new companies don't have a culture. Culture is the by-product of consistent behavior. If you encourage people to share, then sharing will be built into your culture. If you reward trust, then trust will be built in. If you treat customers right, then treating customers right becomes your culture.
Culture isn't a foosball table or trust falls. It isn't policy. It isn't the Christmas party or the company picnic. Those are objects and events, not culture. And it's not a slogan either. Culture is action, not words.
So don't worry too much about it. Don't force it. You can't install a culture. Like a fine scotch, you've got to give it time to develop.
- Rework(pg. 249)
Are your words and actions, and the words and actions of your colleagues, creating a culture you want to be a part of?
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2 comments:
Notions that culture is changing, implicit and recreated by actors has been around for a while.
But, I cant remember having seen the last question i relation to culture before. A great perspective and formulation:
"Are your words and actions, and the words and actions of your colleagues, creating a culture you want to be a part of?"
Thank you Alexander. Sometimes the drama is enough to make you (well, me) want to become some kind of training/teaching ascetic.
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