Two recent engagements – one with a larger client, the second with a prospective client – reminds me how essential it is for senior leaders to understand workplace culture without oversimplifying it. It’s a message echoed in a great post by Culture University’s Tim Kuppler at Switch & Shift:

"The #1 workplace culture challenge is convincing your CEO or top leader that some aspect of culture requires their personal attention. How is culture impacting performance? Why should they care? Why is culture at the root of some of their most difficult challenges? Why they should and must DO SOMETHING." -Tim Kuppler

Kuppler continues that the why question must addressed first, that senior leadership has understand with clarity and some depth why workplace culture is an issue in the organization. A rushed job on the why is going to equal a rushed job on the how – as in how we will work to address workplace culture gaps.