I’d like to introduce two concepts that are emerging in
discussions across our client communities, cultural
transformation and mindset.
In our work, regardless of the specific outcome we are
seeking, some degree of change within the existing culture will be required, or
the desired outcome will be impacted by the existing culture. Both are true and typically occur
simultaneously. It’s critical we stop
thinking of organizational culture as a single thing, but rather, a group of
individuals who each have their own mindset
that drives their behavior. When the
mindset of leadership is to expect
more and expect it faster, we must remember to support the culture (the mindset of all of those individuals)
that delivers it. This support typically
goes beyond the technical capabilities of our organization’s people and the
technology we provide them.
Understanding their mindset is
getting to the “heart” of what makes them tick and motivates them to want to do
more and/or do it differently.
Our clients spend many hours and resources to create
business strategies to improve market share, ROIs and increase the value of
their service or product. These
strategic initiatives always require the culture to transform in order to
deliver. This cultural transformation is achieved when people have a common
understanding of the initiatives and believe there will be value for them by
engaging in the initiative. As we work
with leaders to develop their business strategies, the corresponding change
strategy includes an assessment of the mindset
of leadership and those responsible for implementing the change or impacted
by the change. It is important to define and communicate this alignment between
the mindsets of leadership and the
supporting culture.
What is the thing we call
mindset really? Consider the
following:
- Awareness is your perception of reality. Mindset formulates those perceptions.
- Knowledge is the content of your mind. Mindset constructs the meaning you make of that content.
- Thinking is the process of your mind. Mindset shapes what and how you think.
- Emotion is your feeling state. Mindset determines what you feel in any given situation
- Behavior is the manner in which you conduct yourself. Mindset causes you to behave as you do in any situation.
- Based on individual mindset, a person’s reality will be formed by how they interpret a situation.
Reality = Situation +
Interpretation1
When seeking cultural transformation within an
organization, begin with understanding the mindset
of the organization. Interpretation of
the same situations may vary greatly across your organization, depending on
individual mindset. To the extent
leaders are able to help the organization interpret the same situation
similarly through strong change strategies and meaningful two-way
communication, their chances for a successful cultural transformation increase greatly.
Karen Branick
Practice Leader
Orion Advisory LLC
1BeingFirst, 4Sight Advanced Change Leadership Skills and Development Course and The Change Leader’s Roadmap, Linda and Dean Anderson
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