Culture decoded…
Quite often when the topic of change, adoption and transformation comes up, the aspect that is cited as the biggest blocker is culture, and that is so true!
Whether you are trying to transform your business or modernize your processes and reconfigure your operating model, change is inevitable, and to effectively implement the change and derive value from the process, the big elephant in the room is ‘Culture’.
What is culture?
Merriam-Webster defines culture as follows; it is the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization.
How does culture manifest?
From the many terms used to describe manifestations of culture, the following four together cover the total concept rather well: symbols, heroes, rituals and values.
The Iceberg metaphor
Why is culture likened to an iceberg — 9/10ths of it lies beneath the surface. This hidden area underlines our behavior, influences our perceptions and is outside our immediate frame of reference — until we plunge beneath the surface — or perhaps like the Titanic, encounter it unexpectedly.
Some of the common tip-of-iceberg cultural elements include:
Above the surface
Environment
One of the most visible aspects of culture is the work environment. The way a company designs and maintains the surroundings of the office space sends a distinct message. Surroundings that have a lot of plants, natural light, and recycling facilities communicate a cultural dedication to sustainability. Designs that have more collaborative spaces, recreation area and corners reflect an aura of collaboration, teamwork and work life balance.
Branding
By their very nature, branding elements are visual representations of what’s important in an organization. They reflect the ethos and cultural fabric of the organization and its people.
Representatives
The people an organization chooses to represent it are important visual influencers of the culture. The leadership are instrumental in making key decisions about the overall direction of the company, the values that are important, and the activities the business engages with. Besides the choice of staff at all levels influences various areas of both below and above-surface iceberg aspects of culture. They meaningfully contribute to how effectively a company maintains and represents its culture.
Employee Benefits
The benefits and perks a company offers its employees are visible indicators of its culture. These are components that communicate how highly it values its workforce and the talents they bring to the organization. It’s also a gauge of a company’s recognition that its people are the driving force behind any success it experiences.
Below the Surface
Values
The values of a company have an impact on every aspect of the organizational culture. There can certainly be visual elements related to company values, such as a mission statement. But for the most part, this is an unseen component that is perpetuated through the actions and attitudes of stakeholders. When employees truly understand the organization’s core values, these are expressed through their behaviors, and their interactions with colleagues and third parties. For leaders and executives, these values influence and express the culture through operational decision making.
Safety and Security
An organization that prioritizes safety and security effectively greatly enhances its culture on various levels. It also means that a company’s resources, the interests of investors, and the jobs of workers retain a strong element of protection. As such, this spurs everyone to contribute effectively and take ownership and pride in cultivating a healthy and successful organization.
Transparency
When there is transparency, this can influence trust throughout the organization. This may include protocols for being open with employees, investors, and other stakeholders regarding the financial position of the company and future outlook. This will not only give stakeholders confidence in the positive culture of a business, but it will also encourage all those connected to the organization to act with greater integrity.
Leadership
How those in leadership positions approach their roles may be a beneath-surface aspect of the iceberg model of culture, but it has a very tangible impact. The choices leaders make shape employees’ impressions of the direction of the company. Leaders utilizing strategies that empower workers, motivate them and support their holistic development create the foundations for a culture that enables everyone to thrive.
