Transforming Culture “We need cultural change.” That’s what over 90 % of executives demand in order to adjust to the digital world. But this isn’t an easy task; most of us live and work in established organizational cultures that are the sum of unwritten laws, based on successes of the past and influence the behavior of executives and employees profoundly. Changing culture is challenging and it is only possible by means of consistent transformation. Five Starting Points Culture can’t be changed directly – especially not via campaigns, roadshows or colorful pictures. To change culture, business successes are needed that are achieved through change behavior. Our Rapid Results initiatives, innovation teams and agile sprints are good examples of how to shape a new culture. Besides success stories, four key interventions are required in order to create sustainable cultural change: executives who act in an exemplary manner (we coach you); intrinsically motivated initiative teams, who are ambassadors and role models for new values and behavior (we accompany you); and dialogical events with large groups that let the spirit of the new be felt. Last but not least, you need to part with rules, systems and untouchables that stabilize the existing culture and hinder change – as your sparring partner, we won’t let go of naming touchy subjects, as well. Cultural Change Begins with Exploration A profound exploration of the existing culture provides the basis for a transformation. We work, significantly influenced by Edgar Schein, primarily with qualitative explorations. We start with just a few interviews, professionally designed workshops and the observation of artifacts in order to make existing beliefs visible. In addition, we make you aware of what’s fostering and hindering future success in the current culture. The second step is to develop the requirements of future values and principles in order to start the five initiatives outlined above. One thing is clear: Cultural transformation requires quite some perseverance along with quick successes that create trust. EXPLORATION Culture workshops with self-assessment show patterns, beliefs and cultural borders. DESIGN Describing the culture you wish for, design the key interventions and trying the new behavior out in sprints. ANCHORING Coaching of executives to create the right mixture of initiatives that influence culture. Contact Persons Manfred Höfler Partner Contact Manfred Franz Schwarenthorer Partner Contact Franz More about this Topic Service Leadership Lab Be the best leader you can be. Service Agile Projectmanagement Rapid successes in iterative loops. Service Become a More Agile Organization Interventions which challenge but do not overload. Would you like to know more? Contact us