Leaders Establish Corporate Culture
Employee Management Articles
Submit Articles Back to Articles
What leaders of corporations and organizations say about others can play a
powerful role in the culture that their company adopts. In addition to actions,
policies, and communications, companies reflect what their leaders say. This can
be revealing.
Take Donald Trump, for example.
From all appearances, Trump seems to run a successful organization. The
success of his companies, just as is the case with ANY company, has as much to
do with the character of its leaders as its strategy. This character, referred
to as its culture, is much more powerful than its strategy. It defines who the
company is.
When a leader uses phrases to describe other people including "fat", "slob",
and "ugly", it makes a strong statement to the employees of the company. This
statement comes in two flavors.
One is the statement that is made to leaders of the company. In most cases,
leaders of any group tend to emulate THE single leader. Leaders want to be
included in the plans of the key person and will tend to follow that person's
culture via their actions and words. In other words, they want to impress that
key leader and what better way is there than to be like them? If the leader
likes his or her self, they will certainly like others who are similar to
them... right?
So it becomes easy to emulate that leader by talking like them. If it's okay
for the leader to use these phrases, it must be okay for his followers to use
them.
The leaders who don't feel comfortable in this culture will find a way to
separate themselves from this talk, often leaving the company. They will be
replaced by others who "fit in" with this kind of attitude.
This leads to the second statement, which is made indirectly to the
employees, especially employees who sense that they fit into the categories
being described unflatteringly by the leaders.
These same employees, many of whom are probably of high value to their
organization, hear these comments which come from their leaders and begin to
feel that THEY don't fit in the culture which the leaders are describing
verbally. As they sense this lack of inclusion, they will similarly feel their
lack of fitting in and separate themselves from others, again often leaving the
company.
Can casual comments actually lead to such cultural changes? You bet. Take a
close look at the adoration of employees of a charismatic leader such as Donald
Trump. They watch every move, every comment, very closely, especially those with
desire for upward mobility. They want to impress this leader, be "like him".
Others within the organization want to be liked by their leaders.
Carefully study the heads of companies that you do business with or that you
observe. Listen to the words of these individuals, watch their actions. You'll
see that same attitude throughout the organization, from top to bottom. They
will attract employees and managers with similar beliefs.
And if you like working for a name-calling, tough-talking company, I've got a
suggestion for you.
About the Author
Ed Horrell is the best-selling author of "The Kindness Revolution" which
shows companies and organizations the importance of values-driven customer
service and leadership. Information on his keynotes, books, and seminars can be
found on his website at
http://www.edhorrell.com
Follow us @Scopulus_News
Article Published/Sorted/Amended on Scopulus 2007-03-27 23:13:49 in Employee Articles
