The only thing of real importance that leaders do is to create and manage culture. If you do not manage culture, it manages you, and you may not even be aware of the extent to which this is happening.
Edgar Schein – MIT Professor
There’s a famous quote that says culture always beats strategy. I once worked for a ‘death march’ organization. The organization’s culture focused on getting projects finished on time and on budget. Those who were on board considered these projects the best work they ever did. For those not on board, these projects, may well have been their worst jobs ever.
I spend a lot of time talking about ‘getting it.’ ‘Getting it’ is hugely important to your employer during COVID time. ‘Getting it’ means understanding your organization’s culture, economic model, and work rules. I’m an engineer, who sometimes simply didn’t ‘get it’. Maybe, it was a ‘left brain’ or ‘right brain’ thing. Maybe, it was an ‘IQ (intelligent quotient) or ‘EQ (emotional quotient) thing. I don’t know. What I do know after many years of trying to ‘get it’ and trying different things, I can say that culture is real and those who flow with it do better than those who don’t.
Organizational culture in COVID time is a matter of survival. A survival commitment focuses a company to listen to customers, design robust products, manufacture quality products, or deliver cheerful service. A strong organizational culture develops its own belief systems and language. A culture creates a sense of identity and makes VUCANs feel special. Everyone pulling together in the same direction to achieve organizational unity and strength.
COVID is making work harder for everyone. Culture is changing as a matter of survival. Organizational culture and your personal values should be aligned. Your personal values and morals are the foundations by which organizations and VUCANs make choices – where you work, what jobs you do, why you do them, and how you balance family and work. As values are important, organizations recognize they must listen to these concerns or lose valuable employees, the source of new ideas, innovation, and new apps.
Work Lesson Earned: Pay attention to the actions of those who you work with more than their words. If the during COVID organizational culture jangles you, then deal with it or it’ll kill your career. For example, if a culture is ‘dog-eat-dog’ competitive and your style is collaborative, you’ll be frustrated and eventually leave the organization. Cultural alignment can make or break a career. Learn, adapt, and adopt the culture of your organization or fake it till you make it. If you don’t, it’ll kill your job and maybe sideline your career.