Culture Consultants Cannot “Fix” Your Workplace Culture

Culture exists whether you do something about it or not. An external culture consultant cannot come in and “fix” it for you. You can’t outsource your workplace culture. It’s impossible, since the culture is created by you and everyone else who works with you. And just like it can’t be outsourced, it also can’t be stolen. It’s one commodity that cannot be replicated exactly or copied in a way that would take away from your own version. When a conscious leader—like you—chooses to do something about their culture, it can shift from something that just happens to something that’s purposefully created, nurtured, and sustained.

I’m often asked, “How do you get so many people involved in your programs?” And my response is always this: “I’ve created an intentional culture that’s grounded in our values and attracts people who share them with us.” Authenticity, transparency, empathy, vulnerability, accountability, and inner harmony are the foundation that we’ve built to create a psychologically safe space. We ask people what they want, empower them to own that solution, and then support the process for success in reaching it from a place of personal alignment.

Sounds simple, right? If it were, you likely would not be reading this company culture book.

This seemingly simple work is complex, layered, and difficult for most people—especially for conscious leaders like you, who want to “get it right” but need support on where to start and want guidance on understanding whether you are on the right path.

I have been the leader of a company intentionally and unintentionally crafting culture firsthand every day. And I have been a team member in a company, feeling the positive and the negative impacts of other leaders’ abilities or inabilities to craft culture. Both of these important perspectives are what ultimately led me to focus my work on helping other leaders know, own, and live their values every day so that they can create thriving environments for themselves and their people.

Whether you just started your business or are about to expand, you know how vital your culture is for its sustainability. And although that is apparent, the truth is that culture has its own language, and knowing how to craft it with intention is something most leaders are not fluent in.

Today is always the best day to go deeper into defining and creating the environment you and your people crave. Every day that you wait to create an intentional culture is another day of being unintentional at best and toxic at worst.

We have all been there before: working for a company where we felt so in sync and so energized by the people and work at hand. And we know the opposite of that: working at a company that feels like it is sucking us dry, where the only connection we have is our shared complaints, and even gossip, about how little the place cares.

This post was inspired by MaryBeth’s new book Permission to Be Human: The Conscious Leader’s Guide to Creating a Values-Driven Culture.

If you are a conscious leader who wants to create a workplace culture where your people can thrive, check out MaryBeth’s company culture book.