Good morning, World! It’s Friday!

Last week while in Washington, D.C., I had the pleasure of hearing John Zumwalt, former President & CEO of PBS&J, an engineering consulting firm (now acquired) talk about leadership and it’s impact on company culture. The money line in his discussion was that “people follow a leader’s heart, they don’t follow a manager’s mind”.

This profound statement caused me to reflect on my professional experience and determine whether the statement was consistent with my currently held beliefs:

• I like the definition of culture that states it’s: an interlocking set of goals, roles, processes, values, communications practices, attitudes and assumptions.

• Some might assert about culture that “it is what it is” but I maintain that culture will devolve if neglected. Without a champion/leader(s) to set an aspirational tone, clarify, articulate and emphasize the goals, roles, processes, and values people should use as guides, as well as hold people accountable for a high level of professionalism when it comes to their communications practices, attitudes and assumptions…an organization’s culture will quickly become less than what it could be.

• The leader of an organization is afforded the opportunity to change the culture if given enough time, tools, and resources as well as trust and alignment of the majority of the company to affect it. Most experts who follow culture believe it takes five years or more to have sufficient influence to change the culture of a company in a positive and sustainable way. Obviously, the rate of adoption is different with every company because … every company culture is different. To make significant performance improvements, I’d offer that five years of patience and tolerance to overcome the resistance to change is a minimum.

• The phrase “culture eats strategy for breakfast” is attributed to Peter Drucker, the management and leadership guru. Having spent time and energy on multiple strategic plans, this statement bears paying attention to. The best laid plans … still have to pass the culture test.

So, yes, I agree with Mr. Zumwalt; “People follow a leader’s heart, they don’t follow a manager’s mind.”

Have a blessed weekend.