Yesterday I wrote a post with a piece of advice: “Early-stage companies – Invest in Culture and Leadership early“
Today a simple reflection. As my friend and mentor Suki Laniado Smith often taught me: “Culture isn’t one thing, its the only thing”, as similarly put in the quote in the image above. As I wrote earlier in “Hard is soft. Soft is hard“:
In working in the field of leadership (including coaching, facilitation, being a sounding board), over and over again I’ve heard people label anything to do with people as “soft skills”, or the “soft stuff”. I typically respond with something like: “to the contrary, the soft stuff (values, culture, behaviours) create the hardest measures in business”.
To use one example, let’s talk about leading from values. Those leaders that do this run a filter of the values of the organisation over every single decision. Listen to hear if the CEO and other leaders are asking “Is this in line with our values?” before making any tough decision.
I am fortunate enough to have worked (and continue to work) with clients committed to leading from values. This was most evident in how they responded to the pandemic, as well as how they continue to act. Do they put profit first, or focus first and foremost on the wellbeing of their people, then their clients and customers? If they do have to look to reduce staffing or cut costs in other ways, do they do that in a way that is aligned with their values at all times?
My own background is that I spent about the first two decades focussed on building valuation of businesses, then the last fifteen or so years focussing on one core and oft-neglected element of that, leadership. “Leadership is about people, end of story” is one of my favourite phrases. With an organisation, leaders must focus on culture as core to their leadership. After all, Culture is Everything.
If you are brave, hungry, open and humble in your leadership, you are ready for #Open Leadership, set up a meeting with me here and I’ll listen and then seek to add value to you on your leadership journey as you develop your culture.