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Key Takeaways Identifying and repairing a dysfunctional company culture is essential for long-term success and employee satisfaction.
Leaders must confront cultural issues head-on by seeking genuine feedback, acknowledging problems and implementing sustainable changes.
A true cultural reset involves a systemic approach that aligns values, behaviors and operations within the organization.
Many leaders set out to build a culture people believe in. But that doesn’t mean it’s working. What if your company’s culture actually sucks? Maybe it started out great, but the business has grown, and things aren’t what they used to be. I’ve seen this happen dozens of times: Culture starts to crack, and no one wants to admit it.
The good news is that your culture can be fixed. It’s not the dysfunctional corporate ethos that’s the problem; it’s culture denial that can kill a company. Leaders often rationalize or ignore signs that the workplace is unhealthy rather than face the reality. Admitting there’s a problem means you’ve got to find a solution, and the task won’t be easy.
In today’s world, no one is going to tolerate a soul-crushing workplace. The best employees will quickly walk out the door. Living in denial is not an option. Leaders must drag reality into the daylight and deal with it.
Related: Culture Isn’t a Vibe — It’s the System That Decides for Your Company
How denial kills culture
Culture is incredibly fragile, like a soap bubble. A big splash, a trickle or even slight pressure can reshape or even decimate the delicate structure. Obviously, businesses endure a lot of big and little changes, meaning pressure is inevitable for a growing company. As a result, culture will have its ups and downs. Keeping it from breaking entirely takes work.
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