Q: How can we grow and maintain our culture? We have a strong company culture. We are growing regionally. How do we grow and stay who we are? A: Culture is sometimes referred to as the soul, character, or personality of the organization. It is a system of shared values, meaning, and behavioral norms or…
Managers can serve their employees as a positive guiding influence, or they can function as a source of disengagement and unethical behavior. Q: Should managers be accountable for unethical behavior of their employees? A: While I don’t think managers can or should be held personally liable for independent unethical actions of their subordinates, I do…
Businesses Need To Nurture Leaders Who Know The Right Thing To Do — And Do It Companies need to cultivate “moral champions” – employees who defend key values within the organization. Companies also need to weed out “moral sinners and neutrals” – employees who know right from wrong but don’t act on it. Businesses should…
What makes a “good” or “principled” leader? This question has occupied philosophers, scholars, and practitioners for centuries, and it is not likely that even five books will scratch the surface of the complexity of this question. Nevertheless, we have to start somewhere! I take a strategic approach to this question, one that synthesizes these centuries…
Q: I am interested in learning more about how diversity and inclusion efforts can improve my business outcomes. Can you provide some local resources? A: You are correct in believing that diversity and inclusion efforts (D&I) can have an impact on your business. The business case ranges from the simple — your employees look like…
Q: How do you establish and maintain a company culture when you have multiple offices and some employees working remotely? A: This is a common challenge for organizations adapting to the evolving nature of work with increasing need for telecommuters, decentralized offices and a remote global workforce. Creating and maintaining a thriving culture is more…
When these factors fall out of sync, things won’t work as smoothly as they did. Q: How do I keep my business aligned as it grows? A: You have designed your business with a structure, operating processes and culture that make sense to you. As you grow, you realize that aspects of your business will…
Any leader can develop ways to integrate new aspects of a culture, but this process of change will need lots of attention for a while. Q: What is the best way to handle a “problematic” company culture? A: Organizations often hit a period when many members feel the culture is “problematic” for some reason. This…
There are more options than you might expect for leaders looking to improve their game. Q: When you are the boss, where do you go for coaching? A: There are more options than you might expect for leaders looking to improve their game. Assessments, peer circles and one-on-one coaching all can be valuable resources to…
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