The Myths Surrounding Culture Change and the Realities that Empower Us

When we talk about workplace culture, there's a lot of mythology out there. Some of it's so ingrained in our professional psyche that we accept it without question. But it's time to challenge those myths with some hard realities, and I want to help steer that conversation. 

One of the most pervasive myths is that culture is a nebulous, unquantifiable thing—"just the way we do things around here," with an emphasis on vibes and atmospheres. This view relegates culture to the realm of the intangible, difficult to define, and even more challenging to change. But is that really true? In my experience and based on extensive research, it's not. Culture is far from mythical; it's measurable and manageable. 

Culture crystallizes around the words we speak, the actions we take, the processes we follow, and even the workspaces we inhabit. These components underscore what an organization values without actively trying. Changes in processes, structures, or the technologies we use can rapidly evolve our cultural landscape. This evolution shows that culture isn't static; it's dynamic and responsive. So why do we often feel it's an immovable beast?  

Largely, it's because of another myth: that changing culture is an arduous, time-consuming process. Sure, effort is required, but remember, every decision and change you implement is actively shaping your culture. We've witnessed organizations transform their culture in remarkably short periods—turning oppressive environments into empowering ones, fostering engagement where there was fear. 

These realities debunk the myth that culture is some vaporous entity floating above our heads, out of reach. It's rooted in the tangible, the everyday, and the actionable. And understanding this is the first step in shedding the weight of those myths and taking confident strides towards positive cultural change. 

This is the backdrop to our new e-newsletter, Culture Change Made Easy. Accompanying our 2024 book of the same title, this will pull lots of tips and practical advice from the book as well as continue with the regular insights you are used to from us. We hope you will enjoy and find it valuable!