Building a healthy organizational culture is hard work. You have to crawl before you can walk. And walk before you can run. In today’s episode, we talk about life along the path. The daily grind is complicated and challenging. It requires us to learn and to adapt. It invites us to pursue our grand vision in small and intentional ways. When we set goals, milestones and strategies in alignment with our Transcendent vision, we will find ourselves participating in meaningful culture.

In this episode, we talk about what it looks like to steward your influence. There are lots of different kinds of influence, some more effective than others. All can be used for good or for ill. Building an effective organizational culture begins with individual character and the choices we make. We are all leaders, influencing the people around us. How do we steward that opportunity well? How do we open ourselves to learn and accept the leadership of others? In a healthy culture, each of us will teach and learn. We will influence and be influenced.

There is nothing more vital to building an organizational culture than effective communication. Although we are constantly sending and receiving messages, people are rarely as intentional as they ought to be. This results in divisive and confused organizations. How can we overcome the barriers of communication and unlock the key to organizational culture?

In this episode, we talk about the importance of human emotion. How can we steward our emotions well, giving them their proper due – no more and no less? People are emotional creatures. Although each person is responsible for stewarding their own emotions, organizations formulate mental models that serve as a framework or a template for how emotion is treated within the culture. With intention, we can build a framework that honors people and serves as a catalyst for healthy cultures and effective pursuit of our There.

In this episode, we address one of the most fundamental elements to building an effective organizational culture: seeking and sharing the truth. Truth is an acquired taste and when we seek it together, conflict is inevitable. But conflict is neutral, neither positive or negative. It is an opportunity. How we approach conflict and the path we take to resolve it can be a vital tool toward achieving the mission of our organizations.

In this episode, we discuss the nature of boundaries and consequences. How does boundary setting enhance freedom? It creates walls that keep us from actions inconsistent with our character. And, by doing so, boundaries create pathways that help funnel us toward mission, values, and productivity. Consequences are not an eternal indictment; they are a way to get us back on track, to re-align with the kind of life, organization, and mission that truly matter to us.

In this episode, we talk about blame. Most organizations develop a certain kind of dynamic – one in which all of the participants are competing with one another for the titles and the spoils rather than working together to collaborate toward a mission. What causes us to make enemies out of one another? What perspective, structures, and messaging can we adopt to help turn our organizations into places where teammates thrive? Join us as we discuss the transformational power of focusing on what you can control.

In this episode, we talk about the power of perseverance. The only thing that empowers us to push past obstacles, setbacks, and sorrow is a vision we believe in. If we want to establish a healthy organizational culture, our mental model around failing will play an integral part. Chasing after meaning is complicated and messy. We will make mistakes along the way. We will fall short. One of the key structures in organizational development is learning when to quit and when to see these setbacks as an opportunity to learn and grow.

In this episode, we examine the role of vision in an organizational culture. How do we determine a vision? Not just one that looks good or sounds impressive, but one that is true. Vision setting begins with analyzing what we value. The heart of a dysfunctional organization is the prevalence of competing visions. A clear and unified mission is the bedrock of a healthy organization.

In this episode, we talk about the importance of structure within an organization. Structures connect the people to the purpose, making it possible for members of an organization to participate in their vision. That is, if the structure is healthy and effective. If it is not, people will remain disconnected from the organizational purpose and a whole host of problems are sure to result. How do we build effective structures and what does that have to do with building culture? Join us as we explore the power and possibility of organizational structure.

In this episode, we talk about one of the most talked about, but ill-defined aspects of human society: culture. Although, to some degree, we know it when we see it, it is difficult for most to say exactly what culture is. We see the effects of a toxic culture and the benefits of a good one. How do we strip culture down to its core in order to be intentional about building it up into what we want it to be?

In this episode, we begin to discuss the importance of community in the human experience. We need one another in order to live a life of purpose. We need something bigger than ourselves, where we can test our abilities, learn from others, and chase after visions too big for any one of us. We form organizations in order to achieve these kinds of purposes. Participating in groups is a key component of life. To make the most of it, we need to be intentional about what kind of organization we are building.