Changing Culture Deliberately
Transform unhealthy culture—it's hard but possible
Your Progress
Section 5 of 5Culture Change Is Possible
Changing culture is hard, slow, and uncomfortable—but possible. It requires leadership commitment, consistency, and patience. Most attempts fail because leaders give up too early or aren't willing to make hard decisions. Here's how to succeed.
5-Phase Change Roadmap
1. Diagnose
Duration: 2-4 weeks
Actions:
- •Survey team anonymously
- •Interview 10-15 people
- •Identify patterns
- •Name the problem clearly
Output:
Clear understanding of what's broken and why
Watch Out:
Don't skip this—fixing the wrong problem makes things worse
Handling Resistance
Expect resistance—here's how to handle each type:
Passive Resistance
Signal:
"Yeah, sure" but nothing changes
Likely Cause:
Don't believe it matters or will last
How to Respond:
Show consistency. Prove you mean it. Small wins build belief.
3 Rules for Culture Change
1. Leaders Must Go First
If leadership doesn't change behavior, nothing changes. Model new culture publicly and consistently.
2. Fire When Necessary
People who actively oppose change after fair chance must go. Keeping them signals you don't mean it.
3. Patience + Persistence
Culture change takes 12-18 months minimum. Most fail because leaders give up at month 3. Stay consistent.
Change or Accept
You have two choices: commit fully to changing culture, or accept it as-is. Half-hearted change attempts make things worse—you lose credibility and create cynicism. If you're not willing to do what it takes, don't start.
Key Takeaways
- •5 phases: Diagnose → Define Target → Model Change → Reinforce → Systematize
- •Handle resistance: Passive, Active, Nostalgia, Cynicism—each needs different response
- •Leaders go first, fire when necessary, be patient (12-18 months)
- •Commit fully or don't start—half-hearted attempts make things worse