5 unbiblical things leaders do that destroy their organization’s culture
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"Company culture is the backbone of any organization."
—Gary Vaynerchuk
While we talk about increasing employee engagement, the issue is that of the chicken vs the egg. Which came first? Is the culture bad because its people are disengaged? Or are your people disengaged because the culture is bad? The answer is probably somewhere in the middle—and these are both correct. Churches and non-profit organizations are not immune to culture issues. Often, the working culture can be worse when we assume that everyone is on the same beliefs and mission page.
The simplest understanding of an organization's culture might be:
Those behaviors and methodologies that represent a tangible expression of deeply held beliefs of the people involved, and are built on the wireframe of values demonstrated by the leadership.
On the topic of values (the supporting structure of culture), only what leaders say and do is regarded as a true value to those around them, no matter what may be written.
The values modeled by leadership tend to lean one way or another: either toward empowerment and freedom (people treated as assets, team-centric performance, servant leadership, joint ownership of results); or toward control (people treated as liabilities, centralized "boss" power, hierarchical governance, lack of participatory leadership.) Stephen Covey addresses the need to shift leadership focus in the age of the knowledge worker, in his book, The 8th Habit: from Effectiveness to Greatness.
Building a healthy culture requires, firstly, that the leaders desire a healthy culture, and secondly, they know how to build it. They can just as easily destroy it. Both the building and tearing down of culture takes a while and might not be easily visible at first. Somewhat similar to that of spiritual transformation—it's not an instant fix.
I often liken a crumbling corporate culture to that of mold in the walls of a house. You may not notice it at first, but it slowly brings down the house from the inside out, not to mention causing illness for its inhabitants. Heads up—painting over it with a new coat of "feel good programs" will not solve the problem.
Building a healthy culture takes time and patience, which can feel frustratingly slow if the leaders have a "quick results" mindset and unrealistic expectations. If mold is what brings down the house, the metaphor for building culture is that of re-framing and re-finishing a house. In the process, things are messy and time-consuming, and it often means also means that things don't work for a while. But once complete—it becomes invisible behind the finish of a healthy culture.
Here are five of the most common unbiblical (aka stupid) things leaders do that have progressively destroyed their culture over time:
Stupid #1: Stop listening
When your people don't feel heard, they will stop talking. Instead, they will stifle their greatness and turn it into bitterness and negativity. This is more than just opening your ears, it's also about hearing what's not being said. That takes being intentionally present.
Pride—often because the leader takes a position of superiority—is at the root of this behavior. What do you believe about yourself and others that causes you to not want to listen to them?
"Fire is the way to test the purity of silver and gold, but the character of a man is testing by giving him a measure of fame."
—Proverbs 27:21, The Passion Translation
Stupid #2: Stop caring
If you don't genuinely care for and respect for your team as human beings who have value, no matter what they do or don't do, they will no longer feel safe. The resultant insecurity and resentment soon become toxic.
If pride is at the root of not listening, self-centeredness is the root of an uncaring leader. When you only ever think, feel, and see the world from our own perspective, it can stunt your empathy.
"Employers, treat your workers with equality and justice as you know that you also have a Lord and Master in heaven who is watching you."
—Colossians 4:1, The Passion Translation
Stupid #3: Stop asking for ideas
A true leader is there to serve their team. You don't know it all. Those closest to the issues often have the best solutions. Ask for input and use it as much as possible. Let your people feel safe in discovering their greatness. Recognizing that you don't have all the answers and best ideas is the first step toward humility and self-awareness.
"If you solicit good advice, then your plans will succeed. So, don't charge into battle without wisdom, for wars are won by skillful strategy."
—Proverbs 20:18, The Passion Translation
Stupid #4: Centralize control
Disempowering your people from making simple decisions and getting on with their work as they know best, will slowly erode genuine interest and creativity until your people become "cogs in the machine" just doing what they're told.
Being a leader is about equipping your follows. Give them choice, control over their work, and ownership of the results. The outcome may just surprise you.
"The harvest you reap reveals the seed that you planted.… Don't allow yourselves to be weary in planning good seeds… "
—Galatians 6:8 & 9, The Passion Translation
Stupid #5: Stop telling the truth
A small lie or absence of full information is the fastest way to get your people to stop trusting you. The truth will always be revealed. Let it be from you, rather than someone else. Forked tongues, incongruent behavior, and playing favorites and/or politics will kill a culture faster than you realize.
Healthy, thriving culture that creates growth, opportunity, and financial health starts with you.
When a leader makes a choice to be dishonest (it's always a choice), the bigger question is to explore the emotion and/or internal assumption that created a desire for something that in turn, requires dishonesty. What you are believing or assuming about the other person, the situation, your reputation, etc.? How is that creating avoidance in you? What would happen if you simply told the truth?
"Good leadership is build on love and truth, for kindness and integrity are what keep leaders in their position of trust."
—Proverbs 20:28 The Passion Translation
If you think culture needs some work in your organization, it's time to put on your mold mask, take off the rose-colored glasses and start the hard work of turning things around, or just keeping a good thing good.
Your people will thank you.
 | Kim Levings, a South African ex-pat, is an experienced leader development professional with more than 35 years of experience. Her mission is to equip healthy leaders to build a better world, one micro-culture at a time. Kim is the developer of LeaderPrint©– a Leadership Mastery Experience. She is also a Certified Facilitator of some highly regarded programs and has published several books. Learn More » |
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