Killer culture. One year ago, my LinkedIn article focused on design culture as a global driver in society (big “C” Culture). This October, my thoughts land a little closer to home as we consider the culture of organizations (little “c” culture). More than 100 years ago, Henry Ford said, “Culture eats strategy for lunch.” Key to this message is that no amount of strategizing will be successful unless the culture of an entity is strong.
Many architecture firms have mission, vision, value, and purpose statements. Precious few have a CULTURE statement. Similarly, some design practices have a Strategic Plan, Business Plan, Marketing Plan, Operating Plan, or a Branding Plan. Not many have a CULTURE PLAN, yet it is most important and should be the most enduring. In strong organizational cultures, behaviors and actions become socialized. Being an architect is who you are, not just what you do, right? Similarly, for a firm, culture is who the firm is … not just what it does.
To help firms address this, I developed a simple ‘Killer Culture Acrostic.’ Organizational culture is:
F – Firm (committed and resolute)
I – Inclusive (just and equitable)
R – Resilient (flexible and agile)
M – Motivating (rewarding and fulfilling)
C – Constructive (positive and affirming)
U – Understanding (accepting and empathetic)
L – Learned (mentorship and development)
T – Trusting (valued and respected)
U – Underpinned (supportive and nurturing)
R – Rewarding (satisfying and gratifying)
E – Empowering (enabling and equipping)
Culture is intentional, purposeful, and systemic. Culture needs a champion. Culture requires communication. Culture offers clarity. Culture is constant. Culture takes consistency. Culture drives climate. Culture inspires commitment.
I am crazy about culture! Get in touch if you need my support in your entity’s drive toward an organizational culture / staff climate / office environment that embodies these ‘killer culture’ ideals. Remember … “Good companies have good cultures by chance. World class companies have world class culture by design.” ~ David Friedman, Author, Culture by Design
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Killer Culture
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