So many people talk about strategies in the marketplace nowadays, but very few talk about culture — even some who do try to dodge it.
Someone said, "Culture eats strategy for breakfast."
Without understanding culture, spending time and money on strategies isn't going to work. Why? The reason is simple: despite all the potential positive outcomes from strategy, it can also be the cheapest way to manipulate people with dishonesty.
A website that says all the right things, except who you truly are and what you honestly offer, costs you trust sooner than you think. People who believed you now realize that it's misleading and that they were lied to. Once the trust is gone, the impact is much more significant than you can predict. This is one of the reasons why some schools and businesses have been around for a while, but hardly anyone remarks about them.
Consistent with your beliefs and what you offer comes from something other than strategies; it comes from you, and your most profound purpose and culture.
When we don't call a spade a spade, we compromise our integrity. Trading trust for short-term gain is additive and leads companies to the bottom in the long run. This is the culture we should talk about that needs to change.
Instead of hiding who we truly are, let's embrace honesty in our business practices. After all, it's no longer about building fake perceptions but managing our realities for trust.
When we aren't ready to call a spade a spade, let's stop pretending we are.
