Culture becomes visible when values are tested. Drawing on my conversation with former NASA leader Brady Pyle, here are the lessons organisations can learn about building culture through systems, stories and leadership choices.
Tag: Organisational culture
There is something deeply unsettling happening in artificial intelligence. It isn’t simply that some researchers believe advanced AI could eventually become dangerous. It is that people working close to the technology are publicly expressing serious concerns about where it may be heading – while the organisations and industry around them continue racing to make AI […]
Why holding managers accountable for outcomes they cannot meaningfully influence creates frustration, distorted behaviour and hidden organisational risk Years ago, I remember a manager becoming deeply frustrated about his employee engagement results. Like many managers, he was being held accountable for the engagement score of the people in his area. On the surface, that seems […]
Every organisation has a formal structure — and another system beneath it. The Hidden Ecology explains how unseen conditions such as climate, pressure, influence and capacity shape culture, performance and change.
“We’re not political here.” I’ve heard that sentence hundreds of times over the years. It usually comes from well-intentioned leaders who are proud of the culture they’ve built. To them, politics means gossip, backstabbing, empire building and people advancing themselves at the expense of others. If that’s organisational politics, then of course they don’t want […]
Conflict is often treated as a people problem. When tensions rise, relationships become strained, or teams struggle to work together, organisations frequently respond by investing in conflict resolution training. Leaders are taught how to have difficult conversations, provide feedback, and manage disagreements more effectively. While these skills are valuable, they often address only the symptoms […]
What great leaders actually do is often very different from what leadership books, seminars, and corporate training programs suggest. In my recent conversation with entrepreneur, investor, and author Dave Berkus, we explored the realities of leadership after decades spent building companies, coaching CEOs, investing in entrepreneurs, and serving on boards. Dave has led businesses for […]
Most leaders have had the same experience. You ask a question in a leadership meeting. It’s a reasonable question. The issue matters. The people in the room are experienced, capable, and expected to have a view. And yet — nothing. No disagreement.No endorsement.No challenge.Just silence. Some leaders read this as disengagement. Others interpret it as […]
Leadership programs fail when culture is broken — and it happens far more often than leaders realise. Across Australia and New Zealand, organisations invest millions each year in leadership development, coaching, and capability building, only to watch the behaviours fade as soon as people return to the workplace. Not because the program was flawed, but […]
The Tipping Point For the past two decades, organisations have invested heavily in women’s leadership programs. These initiatives have built confidence, skills, and visibility for thousands of women. Yet despite millions of dollars spent, the global leadership gap remains stubborn. Women continue to be underrepresented in executive roles, and progress has slowed. It’s time to […]