The Change Catalyst

Chapter 23Understanding Your Organisation's Culture

In order to instigate sustainable change successfully, you need to be completely aware of how your people interact with one another; of how your company goes about its business. You need to become aware of your own company's culture – its pros, its cons and how your social norms have developed. Only then can you hope to (a) work with your company's culture to instigate the change you require, or (b) change it.

Observing your organisation's culture will require you to be objective. You will need to look at your organisation anew – from the perspectives of your employees and from the perspectives of your customers. Andy Grove, founder and CEO of Intel, took this quite literally. In order to shake his Board out of its malaise, he and his fellow directors literally walked out the front door, regrouped and then walked back in the front entrance of Intel with ‘fresh pairs of eyes’.

You will need to look at how your employees interact with one another, watching out for emotional hotspots – times and types of interactions which cause the greatest angst, excitement, joy or frustration. Take a fresh look at the corporate paraphernalia that adorns your walls, how your employees decorate their desks, the notice boards and common areas – what does it all say about your intended culture? Does this match your desired culture?

How do people interact with one another? What is the tone of their communications? What is the tone of your corporate ...