The Role of Leadership in Creating a Strong Culture

Leaders,
I have read the books of many respected leadership and leadership development experts from previous eras, and one of the best of these experts was Peter Drucker. 

One of his most endurable statements was:
 
“Only three things happen naturally in organizations: Friction, Confusion, and Underperformance. Everything else requires leadership.”
 
I agree with the premise of Drucker's statement, but I believe there is a fourth thing that happens naturally in every organization:
 
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞.
 
An organization's Culture will develop whether leaders pay attention to it or not.
 
If leaders intentionally define, model, teach, reinforce, and protect the desired culture, the results will likely be positive.
 
But if leaders ignore culture, it will not remain neutral.
 
It will still grow.
 
It will still influence behavior.
 
It will still shape standards, attitudes, performance, accountability, and morale.
 
And unfortunately, it will likely not become the culture the organization needs.
 
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬:
 
“Only four things happen naturally in organizations: Friction, Confusion, Underperformance and the Development of its Culture. Effective leadership can minimize the first three and ensure the proper development of the fourth.”
 
𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬:

- Leaders do not get to decide whether their organization will have a culture; they only decide whether they will intentionally shape it or allow it to shape itself.

- Culture is developed less by what leaders say and more by what they consistently tolerate, reward, correct, and demonstrate by personal example.

- A neglected culture will always produce behaviors, standards, and results that leaders may not like, but helped create through their lack of attention and effort.
 
𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭: An organization’s culture is never on autopilot; if leaders are not actively developing and maintaining it, someone or something else is.


Mike Ettore is an executive leadership coach, author, and keynote speaker based in Tampa, Florida.