Validating the Tone at the Top

Hearing what Jonathan Haidt had to say about his new book The Anxious Generation on a podcast took my thoughts from youth smoking studies decades ago to a daydream about work culture.

I landed on the feelings of walking through the buildings of different organizations. Some were tours. Some were for interviews. Most were for prospect and client meetings.

The point is this: you can feel org culture.

My Leadership/Org Behavior class prof was an attorney turned org behavior consultant. We played with the assessment tools he used in class. It was the first time I had heard anyone say that he could feel the culture of the organizations once he walked into their building.

It was the first time I had heard anyone say that. And with that, what I had thought (and felt) for years was validated.

As my career continued, I got more curious about how that org culture feeling gets to be that feeling in the first place. And, as the years go by I'm convinced that the answer gets simpler: the business owner and leaders "at the top" set that org culture tone.

One of the answers that seldom gets resolved, probably right along with what your exit strategy is (then planning and implementing it), is this: what do you want your organization's culture to be like?

If you started the business, it's typically what you are like. If you are leading the organization now, it's up to you to influence it.

And we can go on about what org culture actually is, but what I think might be more important is how you begin your work every day, how you enter your workplace, how you end your work day, and how you leave that day.

If we strive to become an employer of choice, our org culture's tone gets set at the top. With us. No denying it.

How will you set that tone as you end your day today? Is it different than when you came in?

Who at work is able to check in with you to make sure the tone you set is what your organization needs today? Pass this on to that person with a note of thanks right now.

ryan

Ryan Kauth

Ryan Kauth is a business coach, fractional executive, university lecturer, podcast host, and STR co-host. As an avid "pet rescuer," he actually considered two chinchillas the other day. He also gives anyone 30+ minutes to talk about Grow | Exit | Other topics such as becoming an employer of choice (org culture, talent development), sales/biz dev/marketing strategy/processes, operations, financing, and established founder/family business owner leadership development by simply booking a no-cost, no-obligation calendar slot right here.