Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast!
Culture eats strategy for breakfast is a phrase typically attributed to Peter Drucker, a
management consultant, educator, and author who some describe as “the founder of modern
management”. I say attributed, because the quote has never been cited to him. In any case the
phrase has merit!
The meaning of culture eats strategy for breakfast is that it is culture that determines the
success in an organization regardless of how effective your strategy might be. In other words, if
the people in an organization aren’t passionate about your organization’s mission, vision, and
brand, it can affect their ability to work together, solve problems, and come up with new ideas
for improvement. Their lack of enthusiasm could mean that they are unwilling to give their time
and energy and eventually become disengaged.
As the percentage of disengaged employees’ hovers at 65%, we must find ways to change the
way we do things – create a better culture. Think about the drivers that support employee
engagement and the employee experience: communication, recognition, opportunity, feeling
“in” on things, respect, trust – these can all be supported by a culture that is defined by the
shared beliefs and values of an organization and its members that provide meaning to and influence
daily work life.
WHEN IS CULTURE CREATED?
Each time action is taken. When positive outcomes occur, it reinforces culture values and beliefs, but
negative outcomes also create confirmation.
WHO CREATES IT?
Founders, leaders, departments, teams, geographies, and occupations.
WHERE IS IT CREATED?
On the floor, in break rooms, in conference rooms, on zoom and phone calls, strategic planning and
process design, vendor and supplier interactions, community engagement, and employee engagement.
HOW IS IT CREATED?
The actions we take, or fail to take, through the behaviors we model and allow, and from the beliefs,
known and unknown, we carry inside.
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
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It creates a foundation of how employees experience work
Bottom line performance improves
Companies with great culture outperform competitors
So, if we know that company culture is important because workers are more likely to be
invested in work when their beliefs and values are consistent with their employers’, then
adopting a culture that models your core values is imperative.