Culture Drives Success

Fast Company Now has a short but intersting article on the importance of culture in driving organisational success.

“I came to see in my time at IBM that ‘culture’ isn’t just one aspect of the game - it is the game.” - Lou Gerstner, Former IBM CEO, credited with its turnaround"

The article suggests the following steps as a simple approach to identifying and changing a teams culture.
Consider the team/group/organization you’re leading:

Look at your vision/mission statement and jot down the behaviors that everyone supposedly follows.
On a second list jot down the behaviors that everyone actually follows.
Pick the one discrepancy that annoys you the most.
Make it a top priority to change it.
Have a conversation with colleagues on why each of you think the discrepancy exists.
Agree on some structures to put in place to ensure that change happens (communication, processes, rewards etc).

Where to Start to Change?

This is an inscription on the tomb of an Anglican Bishop in Westminster Abbey:
“When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits,I dreamed of changing the world.As I grew older and wiser I discovered the world would not change ¯So I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country,But it too seemed immovable.As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt,I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me,But alas, they would have none of it.And now I realize as I lie on my deathbed, if I had only changed myself first,Then by example I might have changed my family,From their inspiration and encouragement I wouldthen have been able to better my country,And who knows,I might have even changed the world.”