You Are A Leader, Right?

So, you are responsible for an organization. Maybe just one department or division or maybe the entire thing.

Either way, that’s a really big deal.

It’s a really big deal because that means, in order to be successful, you have to be a really good leader.

Make that a really great leader.

And here’s the thing, great leaders have a lot of responsibility and I don’t mean just the typical responsibilities we can all rattle off…sales, customer service, profit margins, ROI, headcount…

Those things are important and they definitely are on any great leader’s list of responsibilities. But the one thing that trumps all of those and must, therefore, be the most important thing on any great leader’s plate:

CULTURE.

Because culture is everything.

And because as the leader goes, so goes the culture.

And because as the culture goes, so goes the organization.

That’s really great news if you ask me.

The culture of any organization is defined by the behavior of its leaders.

You are the reason your culture is what it is.

Simply defined, culture is the predominant attitudes, values and behaviors that characterize your organization. (With thanks to Webster’s dictionary)

And with that said, it’s important to point out that your organization, already has a culture. It’s impossible for it not to have one.

What’s your  organization’s current culture?

If it’s not what you want it to be, you can start, right now, to change it.

Build your culture intentionally.

I’d love to help. And I may want to call in the assistance of a horse. Cause this is important and horses are great teachers and coaches. Let’s talk.

Here’s a little something else I’d like you to know about yourself as a leader:

YOU CAN ACTUALLY CHANGE THE WORLD.

But to do that, you’ll need to change your organization’s culture first.

Let me explain…

If you’ve ever had the extremely unfortunate occasion to work within an unhealthy culture, I am sorry for you. That’s easy for me to say because I have. And it made me sick. Literally sick.

Unhealthy cultures are way worse that just “bad work environments.” They are life and joy-stealers.

People who work in unhealthy cultures usually feel that what they do doesn’t matter, they are frustrated by a lack of direction within the organization, and here’s the worst kick-in-the-pants: they feel, that as people, they are valued less than money.

That’s just plain gross.

I know you are smart, so take just a minute to consider feeling any of those things…

Now consider feeling all of them…

It would be pretty difficult, if not impossible, to do your best work feeling like that.

But let’s keep talking because there’s more that needs to be said…

Add to those unpleasant feelings the feelings of confusion, internal politics, and lack of accountability.

And imagine feeling that way, day in and day out.

Again, that’s gross. But this time I will add YUCK.

If that’s not bad enough, when you leave work, you take all the yuckiness with you. You can’t not take it with you. It’s like being in a room with a bunch of people smoking cigarettes – you may not smoke – but you will leave with the smell of smoke all over you. You’re covered in it, no way around it.

Nobody should have to work so hard to leave the unhealthy culture they work in behind. Nobody should have to leave work “covered” with negativity because remnants of that “covering” will still be there when these people go home to their families, go to church and community events, coach their kids soccer games, and just plain live their lives.

I’ve already mentioned that I know you are smart, so I’ll stop right here.

Your organization has a responsibility to its employees to provide them with a healthy culture that inspires them.

Indeed, your organization has a responsibility to contribute to a better world…We are all here to make the world a better place.

What do you want to build?