When considering building culture within a company or a team, consider that the purpose of leadership is to pave the way for culture to develop. Culture is something that grows organically, and when we talk about developing a culture, what we’re really talking about is changing our actions to intentionally promote the growth we are aiming for. Leading by example means, then, that you are exhibiting the shared values that you want to see shaping the organizational culture of your company or team.
What are the organizational values that you want guiding the core culture of your team? There are a lot of different guiding principles out there, like value-based culture or people-first culture, and those are excellent starting points to consider. However, there are some more basic, foundational ideas that every positive culture needs. Incorporate these to lead the way for your whole team.
Represent a Strong Cultural Core
A healthy workplace culture starts with your values as a leader. Leaders have more responsibility than just directing the troops. Yes, you can be a neutral, hands-off leader, but the culture that grows from that approach may be just as neutral and hands-off. Leadership impacts organizations because the team or company culture will follow whatever example it is given. A hands-off leader can result in a cold, solitary culture developing where there is no trust between members. A lack of trust in a team is not a healthy baseline for success.
What core principles should you be focusing on as the leader of a team, then? There are three that will guide your team towards a healthy culture, regardless of whichever style you want to encourage: trust, accountability, and respect. Trust is the solid foundation of any team culture. Accountability and respect promote healthy relationships which build off of the foundation of trust and demonstrate that you are going to act in ways worthy of that trust.
A Way Forward for Culture Building
Leading by example, then, becomes an exercise in showing your company or team that you hold those values in high regard. Your team will see the actions you’re practicing every single day, and they will feel the impact of them. Extending trust to your team, holding yourself accountable, and demonstrating that you respect your team members will become guiding pillars of culture. Identify the additional values that you want reflected in the larger culture, and make sure to live those values out in front of your team.
This is the key to active culture building. Yes, culture is an organic thing that grows out of the influence of everyone who is participating within that culture, but if you’re making sure that you’re the one paving the way, then your team and its culture are more likely to follow your path.
Check out some of our other articles on culture development and transactive memory! If you’re looking for ways to practice culture development, schedule a demo to learn how TourGuide Games custom culture-building experiences can be the cultural strategy your team!
