THE

100

PRINCIPLES OF HIRING ACCURACY

PRINCIPLE

#29
DEFINE YOUR CULTURE OR SOMEONE ELSE WILL
As leaders, culture is being created at your company whether you're proactive in shaping it or not. Define your culture or other forces will do it for you.

Defining your culture isn't easy.

It takes effort. Plus whenever you choose to stand for something, you risk repelling others who may not agree.

Because of this, some put it off.

The assumption is it's better to not define your culture than to risk defining it incorrectly.

The problem of course is this.

Culture is being created at your company whether you like it or not.

Not just created. It's solidifying...

So the question is - would you rather shape cement while it's wet and malleable or once it's hardened (i.e., concrete)?

If you're not proactively shaping your culture, someone else is:

-Your most toxic leaders or employees.
-Your most visible oversights or mistakes.
-And a host of other forces - all of which may run counter to the kind of culture you hope to create.

Don't let 'the perfect' be the enemy of 'the good.'

Define your culture (and shape it accordingly) or other forces will do it for you.

What are some companies or leaders you've known who took the time to define & execute an amazing culture?