Conscience of the Culture

The culture of our communities is, for better or for worst, the predominant pattern of our collective behaviors, actions and decisions. Our families, our schools, our towns, our neighborhoods, our places of work – all of these are the communities that make up our world. Each one of us, through our daily behaviors, speech, actions and choices, contributes to the character of these communities. We shape the world in which we live and work, for ourselves, for our families, for our friends, for our colleagues and co-workers and for our fellow citizens. Our work, during the course of this seminar, is to ask, what is the character of the culture that we aspire to create and live in as a community.

Whatever the answer to this question, and whatever the size or scope of your community, you have an opportunity to be more deliberate and intentional. You have an opportunity to choose how to behave and speak and act, individually and collectively, to craft a purposeful culture.

Crafting purposeful culture is both an act of individual intention, and a collective responsibility. Purposeful culture doesn’t happen because you will it to happen. It happens because you and many other people in your community turn your wills into behaviors and words and choices that honor and demonstrate the characteristics of the culture that you aspire to create. Everyone can be involved. Everyone can accept ownership and take responsibility. Now, whether everyone accepts that ownership, whether everyone takes responsibility by holding themselves and one another accountable – that is another issue. Accepting ownership for oneself is an act of citizenship; asking others to accept ownership and holding them accountable, regardless of your position or title, is an act of leadership. Not to do so, especially if you are employed or entrusted with the responsibilities of a leader, is an act of abdication.

So, where to begin? Crafting purposeful culture demands that you first align on and articulate a clear understanding of the culture that you want to create or safeguard in your community. Clarity, understanding and alignment will be our focus during the Conscience of the Culture seminar. We will ask:

What are the characteristics of the culture you aspire to create?
What do these characteristics really mean?
Why do these norms matter to you?
To what degree are the many other people in your community both clear and aligned on these cultural characteristics?
How do or could these cultural characteristics support your vision for your community?

Your collective and candid consideration of these questions will better prepare you to engage the other members of your community in a conversation about the whats and whys of your culture. In turn, they will better understand the importance and implications of their taking ownership for their own behaviors and actions. Finally, equipped with a clear understanding of the culture that you want to create, collectively, you and they will be better prepared to identify and act on what needs to change. In your roles as a leader, you will have the opportunity to champion those changes, collaborate with your colleagues and co-workers, and distribute ownership to your staff and the other members of your communities to make those changes real.