Rockets blowing up on launch? Check your company's culture.

Your company's culture will predict whether or not your business succeeds or fails

If you're sending an unmanned rocket into space and your rocket explodes on launch, what missing screw, cracked O-ring, software update, or coffee spill is to blame? In the autopsy that follows, one of those things, or something just as small, will be implicated.

What if your rockets keep exploding? Has your company banned coffee, reverted to Windows 98, switched from imperial to metric, deployed Super Glue? With just a little duct tape, chewing gum, and a can-do attitude, certainly those rockets will eventually deploy.

No, that rocket was destined to explode. And it was predictable, entirely, by observing the culture of the team that built it.

What are some of the observations?

• Nepotism
• Department silos, particularly if they're motivated by competition
• Deprecating experienced team members in favor of cheaper, entry-level staffing
• Lack of mentoring programs, or training that's not applicable
• Cost-cutting without understanding whether quality will be impacted
• Serving short-term initiatives for quick rewards while sacrificing the big picture
• A closed-door policy between management and the team

What's the fix?

The head has to lead the feet. From the top of the organization, senior management has to commit to the culture change, and be prepared to defend it. While the last item on the bulleted list above is about communication between management and their teams, it's actually first on the list of fixes. An effective manager isn't HOPING that the team communicates whatever roadblocks are impeding progress. The manager has to create the pipeline for the communication, and cultivate it.

That means rewarding reporting, not just expecting or demanding it. It also means insulating the messenger from reprisal, lest they fear being killed─metaphorically. That kind of work comes from being a skilled LISTENER, something an improvisor practices and understands implicitly.

In following articles, I'll address the other bullet points in the list of observations. If you feel like your company could use the deft touch of an improvisor coach to enhance your company's culture of listening, drop us a line on our Hire Us page. We'll set you on the path to cure your company's culture and finally succeed.