What is Culture?

Culture is an umbrella term which is the way of life, especially the general customs and beliefs, of a particular group of people at a particular time.

This can include “the way we do things”, and “the standards we set for ourselves”. Sometimes the things we don’t do or don’t call out as a group can become the norm.

Coaches and team leaders can, by their actions or inactions, set the standards, either strengthening the culture or weakening the culture in response to one individuals actions or behaviours. This can have a major impact on a group.

A simple beginning for any group whether, business or sport, is to ask the questions:-

“Why do we exist?” What is our Why?

“What are we striving to achieve?

“Who is part of our organisation; work unit; sports club or team?”

“What values and behaviours do we want to adhere to; to be known by; do we expect of ourselves?”

“When do we want to display these desired values and behaviours?”

“How do we want to display these desired values and behaviours?”

We’ve often seen these developed by a management team with no relevance or buy in to the wider work force or team members. This top down approach can be rejected by employees or team members, particularly when not displayed by the creators or members within the management team or leadership structure.

It is important to get buy-in and participation from the members of the organisation, work unit or team members. This can be facilitated as the creation of such a document by that particular work group or team having their own culture and living their own culture. Ideally these will be congruent with the overarching values and behaviours of the parent organisation.

There is a simple exercise we can do to facilitate the creation of such a document.