a culture-powered strategy eats pretty much anything it wants - like the competition

All rights reserved PeopleFirm LLC 2014

PART 3: Building a culture that feeds your strategy (instead of eating it for breakfast)How to build a high-performing organization in the 21st century.


We’ve talked about how the world has changed. We’ve talked about how you need a clear and compelling strategy, now more than ever.

But now to make that strategy flourish…


Yeah, just think about that for a

momentWouldn’t it be awesome if your culture actually fed

your strategy?

How? By building a culture that really nourishes it.

After all, culture is the environment in

which strategies either thrive or

die


But first, what the heck is “culture” anyway?


well, the dictionary says… culture: noun \’kәl-chәr\1. a way of thinking, behaving, or working that exists in a place or organization (such as a business)


But for those of us who like plain speak, it’s:

“the way we do things around here”.


Ok, but can you really influence your culture?

YES!You just have to pull the right

levers!


Where does culture start?

Tip: Culture is built from many moments of truth. Get those moments right, and the rest will follow.

reserved PeopleFirm LLC 2014

Culture happens. It happens everyday through the cultural levers you pull. Those levers include the decisions you make, where you focus, what you measure, how your leaders talk, and what’s rewarded. It’s driven by your processes, programs, tools, policies, environment, and all the things that touch your people every day.

To change culture, look at all those things, no matter how small. And ask yourself, are the levers you’re pulling creating the culture you want?


But what culture do you want, anyway?


Well, start by identifying the cultural attributes that will feed your strategy.


Authentic: It’s the age of self-expression (think social media)! Your people want to be themselves, and they want their company to be real too. This means corporate transparency.

Agile: You need to be agile to thrive in the face of change. Celebrate change-capable behaviors, such as proactively seeking to understand new responsibilities.

Innovative: Celebrate creativity, innovation, and moving ideas quickly through your organization.

Inclusive: Embrace all people and all work styles. Celebrate differences – and if you’re going to be intolerant of anything, be intolerant of bias!

Meaningful: Get people excited about the big, heart-thumping, greater goal of your organization. Connecting people with your purpose is the bedrock of a culture that rocks.

Safe: A VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, & Ambiguity) world means pressure. You can help. Provide employees with a safe and calm environment. Focus on good will and good intentions.

like these for today’s world:


Then take action.


Like this.Authenticity?

Agility?

Innovation?

Inclusion?

Safety?

Or awesome

customer service?

…leaders should share their challenges and learnings openly and honestly

…hire change-capable folks, and reward for change-

capable behavior

…set time (and resources) aside for creative work

…make sure your leaders are from diverse backgrounds

and generations

…stop penalizing when your people express ideas or

‘show up human’

…empower employees to make customer decisions on their own


Got it?

YES!

Feeding your strategy requires

conscious decisions about your culture – but the resulting high-

powered partnership is so

worth it!


Tune in next time for PART 4: How to build a structure that supports our new way of doing business.

So… Strategy aligned? Check. Fed by your culture? Check.

So is it easy for your people to deliver? Or is your structure in your way?


your people = your success.

Seattle ∙ Portland ∙ Vancouver, B.C.

www.peoplefirm.com

thanks for reading.

a culture-powered strategy eats pretty much anything it wants - like the competition

Leadership & Management