Why Culture Starts With Leadership

Modern times require modern measures. Why is that? Well, if we look at the prevailing company culture that was anthropocentric and worshipped the head; owner, president, CEO, or any executive, we'll notice that it is declining.

In order to grow an authentic and healthy company culture, whether it is customer-oriented or goal-oriented, companies need to build a work ethic, a philosophy that permeates all the departments. This can only be possible from the top downwards.

Here's why company culture starts with leadership:

1. It can set the vision

Who else can better set the vision than leadership themselves?

In order to inspire the team members and employees towards a new company culture, leaders themselves must define the goals, set the rules, and establish the correct model behaviors that can make it happen. And these all have to be shared with all the team members, departments, and even partners, in order to be aligned.

If they themselves don't take this seriously and they don't make an effort, then why would employees ever try to. Company culture can be altered and transformed when everyone is motivated and positive that these changes are for the better.

1. It sets an example

Words are easy but what about actions? Setting a company culture is easy by setting the rules and policies, but who's going to give a good example.

If, for instance, the company culture requires promptness, the manager or CEO cannot and should not be the one to be late to the meeting. Behaving as you with others to behave and staying true to your words and policies will result in a complete transformation of your company through the modeling of behavior.

To operate better and be more efficient, everyone must do their best and give their 100 percent each day. This starts from the top.

1. It makes certain behaviors a policy

But setting the vision and a good example it's not enough to secure success. A complete culture transformation would require more than model behavior.

There should be a reinforcement and even a review of existing corporate policies, to assess their value and efficiency. If an existing company policy contradicts the new culture desired, then it should be altered accordingly.

Such adaptations and reinforcements are very important to achieve the mission of change.

Change is always a positive process, although certainly not always easy to adapt to. Give time to your employees and remind them of the new policies frequently. Keep your eyes on the target, which is the company's mission.

So, here are 5 things great leaders do that can change culture:

1. Admitting mistakes or slips

Noone’s perfect and that includes leaders. There’s nothing more human than common mistakes or slips. When these happen, it’s best to acknowledge them and admit them in team meetings or in-person.

A leader's position is not undermined by integrity and self-awareness. On the contrary, such behavior inspires respect.

1. Listening to feedback and your employees' needs

Your employees could not be productive or positive towards a company that disregards their views, let alone their needs. Everyone's voice should be heard and listened to whenever given the chance. Great leaders are open to feedback, do not fear criticism, and draw on recommendations and reviews.

1. Defining & Redefining goals and values clearly

Along the way towards company culture transformation, what is surely needed is to highlight the new goals and core values. It's not easy for people to adapt to changes so abruptly. Great leaders have patience, eloquence, and clearness of mind. They can define and redefine the goals, remind everyone of the values and set the vision again and again in order to reach the desired result.

1. Infusing the concept of “accountability”

Effective leaders know how to hold themselves accountable, and when needed, hold others accountable for their actions. Knowing one’s place in a hierarchy within a company is very important in terms of tasks and their implementation. Rather than an issue of superiority/inferiority, accountability and hierarchy is a way to delegate and assess progress.

The language used during meetings to assess such progress is feedback-oriented and not a rhetoric of blame.

1. Teaching empathy & mindfulness

A magic ingredient many companies lack is empathy. What makes a leader really stand out isn't decisiveness, strictness, or leadership. It is their ability to show empathy and understand the position of others.

This creates an ideal working environment, where each and everyone is valued and heard, and the company values are put into effect. Mindfulness and openness to express one's self clearly make good employees greater!

Sources:

https://www.eaglesflight.com/blog/why-company-culture-starts-with-leadership#:~:text=Leadership%20is%20responsible%20for%20defining,the%20decisions%20that%20are%20made.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/grantfreeland/2018/07/16/culture-change-it-starts-at-the-top/

https://videoly.co/blog/why-positive-company-culture-starts-with-leadership/

https://hbr.org/2016/10/leaders-can-shape-company-culture-through-their-behaviors

https://www.crewhu.com/blog/it-starts-at-the-top-5-ways-leaders-shape-company-culture

https://www.billhogg.ca/5-things-all-great-leaders-do-to-create-a-culture-of-leadership/

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