Culture is in the smallest interactions

Culture can feel like a nebulous thing to explore in a workplace context.

Often we default to policy folders or bold canvas prints that adorn office walls showcasing visions and values in inspiring typefaces.

But what if culture is also the stuff that happens when there's no performative driver? When the optics are not the only reputational contributor?

What if culture is everything - way beyond the annual 'away day', armed with post-it notes and good intentions.

Culture is a huge umbrella term for 'way of being', which includes (but isn't restricted to) everything from a recruitment process and implied and overt office hierarchies, to how you're greeted in the morning, the tone of emails, 'off the record' kitchen chat and how people are treated when the sh*t hits the fan.

It's in the integrity of every interaction and the congruence between the shiny awards and and how it actually feels to walk in a room or join a Teams call. It's in the smallest moments that have a cumulative impact to either reaffirm alignment or erode trust.

Curiosity is key if an organisation wants to get real about disconnects and cultural incongruence. Cultures of trust and mutual respect are not for the egoic among us, as this is not a game of preservation and pride - it is about being genuine, transparent and open to the fact that you might not always get it right and there's humility in that.

I'd argue that it's not an overlay. Any attempt to reverse engineer and 'instil values' without being open to accountability is a sure-fire way to undermine your own intentions.

There are large institutions I've worked alongside (which I'll likely not name) who might routinely invest in costly rebrand processes yet overlook the opportunity for genuine reflection and accountability, because there's simply too much at stake to risk opening up Pandora's Box.

Culture, leadership and wellbeing are all intrinsically linked. We often view them as separate 'entities' yet they are organisational DNA. To pay lip service is to underestimate their impact on a company's entire trajectory (including the bottom line).

So the invitation is to listen to the conversations in the corridors, to be attuned, discerning, courageous, candid and open to learning, especially in an organisational leadership position. It takes humility and heart to stay aligned and sometimes those things are hugely underrated in the workplace.

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