You can identify the culture of an organization by its leadership. No organization or institution will move beyond the capacity of its leader. If a leader is well organized and efficient, the organization will be well organized and efficient. If the leader is personable, the organization will be personable. If the leader is undisciplined, the organization will be undisciplined. There will be other staff within the organization who possess leadership traits consistent with managing efficiently; however, it is the leader who determines the direction of the organization and establishes the culture the people are expected to follow.
I remember doing training for an organization in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I asked the staff what they thought of the organization. A brave soul spoke openly and said it was the worst organization he ever worked for. He spoke of inconsistency, lack of integrity, and lack of engagement by the senior leadership. This opened the door for others to speak regarding their thoughts of how the organization was managed. Interestingly enough, a VP was sitting in the training, completely oblivious to the thoughts being shared. After some dialogue, the VP realized this needed to be communicated with his peers and he committed to develop a line of communication that would address these issues with transparency.
People don't leave organizations. They leave the leadership of the organizations. Excellent leaders will establish loyalty among their teams that creates allegiance, even if other benefits are below industry standards. I have heard people admit to staying with a company because they loved the leadership, not because they were compensated appropriately. I have seen employees work though their paychecks were delayed because they saw passionate leadership push mission and vision. I have seen employees put their retirement on hold because they did not want to leave the environment of the company. They cited things like "family, relationships, trustworthiness, and bond."
A question I commonly ask leaders in organizations is "What is the sound of this house?" Many look at me bewildered, not knowing how to answer. I ask staff and employees the same questions. Some assimilating the question to music theory will say, "flat, sharp, no harmony, off beat, or too layered." One interesting response was, "everyone is beating their own drum." This is common in many organizations. The communication of culture is key to ensuring success and efficiency. Mission and vision cannot be achieved unless everyone is working together toward a common goal. Leaders who are not trusted or respected will have difficulty getting buy in from their teams. Teams without collaboration will be slow to reach outcomes. Companies that cannot consistently reach objectives will breed apathy, eventually causing both good and mediocre talent to leave.
I encourage college students soon to enter the workplace to ask about the sound of the house in their interviews. It's a question that should be asked before entering into any long-term relationship, even marriage. How can you follow someone who does not know where they are going? How can you serve an organization or institution that is inconsistent in applying principles of growth and maturity? The sound encompasses what people hear, what motivates them, and how accurately they complete their assignments. Every house has its own unique sound that is directed by the band leader. What sound resonates in your house?
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