Understanding Culture Basics

Good leaders create a culture of respect and trust where ever they go. They understand that a team needs to feel valued and appreciated, and that mistakes are part of the learning process. Good leaders also foster an environment where everyone can contribute their ideas without fear of repercussions or criticism.

It is important to be aware of the business culture in your industry. What may be considered appropriate behavior in one company may not be acceptable in another.

For example, in some companies it's considered rude to criticize someone else's ideas in front of them. In others, it's considered bad form to refuse a request for help.

It's important to be aware of the norms in your industry so that you can avoid making any faux pas. When in doubt, ask someone who is familiar with the culture what is considered appropriate behavior.

It's also important to be mindful of the norms in your own organization. Take the time to get to know each individual’s preferences and respect their boundaries.

By creating a culture of respect in the workplace, leaders can develop an environment where everyone feels safe and appreciated, which leads to higher levels of productivity and success.

Leaders don't just rely on their team to create a positive culture, they also take responsibility for creating and maintaining it. They invest in team building activities, provide recognition programs, and promote open communication between all members of the team. Additionally, good leaders are transparent about successes as well as failures and make sure everyone is held accountable for their performance.

As a starting point, sit down and ask yourself the following questions:

1. How do you foster a leadership culture in my company?

2. What are some things you do to cultivate a positive team environment?

3. How do you encourage growth and innovation in your team?

4. What is your philosophy on failure and how does it impact your team?

5. How do you handle conflict within your team?

To often as leaders, we expect everyone to be on the same page without ever asking the right questions. Use the above questions to really start an analyses of your team. Build a strategy in order to accomplish the goals of the culture you desire. Culture, like anything is business, is 20% strategy and 80% action. Don't get stuck trying to perfect this at first. Just get the ball moving. Adjust as you go and the team will never be the same.