It can often seem as a buzzword. Job candidates ask interviewers regularly to point to the evidence that the culture proclaimed truly exists within the organization. While its definition is a bit subjective and can be articulated in many ways, the reality is simple:

The culture of any team, department or organization is a manifestation and reflection of the leader’s heart.

Because of this, the leader or coach needs to show up and build with care and intentionality on a daily basis.

All eyes are on the leader. From the second they walk through the doors until they exit for the day. It then continues in the off hours as their actions in public and through social media channels are constantly evaluated and placed under the microscope. Each moment contributes to and impacts their team’s culture.

“Every day you’re creating your culture by what you think, by what you say, and by what you do. And so, you are creating a culture with your mindset, with your beliefs, with your behaviors and what you do on a daily basis.”

–Jon Gordon

Culture manifests through the actions and thoughts of the leader

Tips for leaders to make daily deposits towards the culture:

• Watch your body language. Be confident and lead with courage.

• Be consistent with your attitude. Control your emotions.

• Articulate your vision. Inspire and blaze a path.

• Be vulnerable. The team would rather follow someone that’s real than someone who’s always right.

• Be proactive. See around corners for your team.

• Care for your team. Both personally and professionally.

• Have integrity. Build the right way.

It’s easy to see why these actions and thoughts can disseminate quickly and become contagious. When done with care and consistency, a culture will emerge that is productive and inspiring.

Leaders must own their culture and responsibility for it.
This takes a high level of thought and planning. Define what your mission is, articulate it well and bring others on board who want to be a part of the journey.

Don’t blame others or outside forces for what it is or what it becomes. It (or they) are not to blame. You are responsible for defining it and driving it forward.

Culture evolves. It is not static; it’s dynamic.

Just because the atmosphere surrounding your team exists today doesn’t mean that will be what defines it tomorrow. For better or worse. The greatest tool for a leader can have is awareness. Have a pulse on what’s going on and solicit opinions. Ask for feedback and implement “start, stop and continue” exercises regularly with your team.

Start: What are opportunities you would recommend implementing to further our department’s strategy and processes (that we are not currently practicing)?

Stop: If you were given the keys to drive moving forward, what would you immediately put an end to?

Continue: What are we doing as a team that you love, and we should keep moving forward with?

Each day is a new day. Baby steps forward lead to significant progress over time. Stay the course and build with confidence.

“People support a world they help create.”

–Dale Carnegie

The culture can be built without budget.
Everyday focus on how you show up as a leader. It costs yourself and the organization nothing. How you radiate, carry yourself, communicate, react and care for your team impacts everyone around you and is the ultimate engine for what drives your culture.

Your personal input and output trumps sales gongs, Linkedin posts or revenue-driving contests any day of the week. Focus on the root so the fruit is real; not artificial.

You must spend more time on building your culture than on everything else. Value it, care for it and nurture it on a daily basis. There is no destination or endpoint for your team’s culture. The team just needs you to lead with authenticity and care each and every day.