Transform Culture

The typical problem with Mission Statements is that they are generic, very broad and not memorable. Most importantly, Mission Statements attempt to combine the underlying purpose of the organization with its method of advancing that purpose. This is problematic because as methods change over time, the Mission Statement needs to be redone. Something as critical to […]

We’ve provided a clear definition of culture and showed how that impacts behavior, as well as how it should impact the success of your association. You got to see how the leader of a very strong culture approaches the task, and then we discussed the link between culture and attracting and retaining the best talent. We challenged assumptions […]

One of the main sources of resistance I get against a more disciplined approach to organizational culture is that it is hard to define. It’s vague. It’s squishy. It’s complex. It means different things to different people. While it is complex, here’s what I have found to be a pretty clear definition: CULTURE IS THE […]

I was at an event recently for association CEOs on finding and keeping top talent. The topic of culture was raised repeatedly (yay!), but in the middle of the panel discussion, a CEO of a large and successful association dropped this bomb (not a direct quote, but my paraphrase of what she said): It takes […]

On the “love” side, I’ve seen many different organizations that I respect greatly — organizations with truly outstanding cultures — which not only have core values, but firmly believe they anchor an outstanding culture. They reference them frequently, at all levels inside the organization. They live them. On the “hate” side, however, I have also […]

Here’s a basic truth: everyone wants a “positive” culture. This is most certainly true if you’re in charge in an association. You want to be able to say that the culture there is good or positive—maybe even cool, fun, or awesome. Right? WRONG. I understand the desire to have a positive culture — it’s certainly […]

Today’s interview is with Mark Anderson, CEO at the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. ASSH is one of our favorite case studies of organizations with awesome cultures, and was featured in the Digital chapter of our book When Millennials Take Over. If you want to read more, this chapter is included for you here. [Maddie […]

I assume you’ve all heard the expression, “People don’t leave organizations—they leave managers.” I get it: managers do matter and can have a big impact on the experience of an employee. But when you leave an organization because of a manager, in many cases, that manager is simply doing what that organizational culture expects of […]

ONCE A MONTH, I’LL ROUND UP SOME LINKS TO POSTS FROM AROUND THE INTERNET ON OUR CULTURE TOPIC OF THE MONTH. HERE’S THIS MONTH’S READING LIST: Creating Culture: An Imperfect Recipe (Andy Dunn, CEO of Bonobos) “Most of the time when you need something at a company, you make it. If you want to sell a […]

IT’S TIME TO UP OUR GAME, ASSOCIATIONS. Join me in a year-long exploration of culture and association success. I am embarking on a fairly ambitious writing endeavor: one full year’s worth of content focused squarely on the role that culture plays in driving the associations’ success. For those who know me, you’ll recognize these are […]