Why Culture is King

The way I think about culture is that modern humans have radically changed the way that they work and the way that they live. Companies need to change the way they manage and lead to match the way that modern humans actually work and live. We’re trying to re-craft culture in a way that really matches that. I think that 99% of companies are kind of stuck in the ’90s when it comes to their culture.

— Brian Halligan, CEO of HubSpot 

I recently returned from a very informative and eye-opening OSHA training. This training is part of an OSHA partnership with the Electrical Transmission and Distribution sector. The training reminded me once again why culture is king for sports, business, partnerships etc.

The goal is not to do business with everybody who needs what you have. The goal is to do business with people who believe what you believe.

— Simon Sinek

Here are my Top 3 reasons Why Culture is King:

1. Good Culture means Good People. At the core of every organization are the people. Good employees, good partners, good clients etc. Good culture attracts (and keeps) good people whether within the organization itself or outside the organization via partners or clients.
2. Good Culture means People Care. When people care, countless benefits are manifested as communication levels increase allowing organizational learning and people are encouraged to innovate.
3. Good Culture means Endurance. Challenges and difficulties are inevitable in life and in business. Whether these challenges are faced by the organization or in the personal lives of employees, partners, and clients good culture provides endurance. This endurance allows everyone involved to cope with the challenges to the extent that they can outlast the challenges to be successful.

 A hallmark of a healthy creative culture is that its people feel free to share ideas, opinions, and criticisms. Lack of candour, if unchecked, ultimately leads to dysfunctional environments.

— Ed Catmull

The organization that has a culture that is focused on building a positive experience for its people will have a good culture. This good culture will allow the organization to not only be good but be a great organization.

 Culture is the deeper level of basic assumptions and beliefs that are shared by members of an organization, that operate unconsciously and define in a basic ‘taken for granted’ fashion an organization’s view of its self and its environment.

— Edgar Schein