Organizations are actually living, breathing organisms. They have health markers, just like us humans.
Leaders are in particular need of being able to assess and address organizational un-health.
Consider the following graphic conception for viewing, thinking about, and discussing the health of your organization.
Healthy <<——————- Blah ———-———>> Toxic –
Transparency <<——————————————————>> Secrecy
Trust <<—————————————————————->> Distrust
Collaboration <<—————————————————–>> Isolation
Service <<———————————————————>> Self-Interest
Equality <<———————————————————->> Hierarchy
Support <<——————————————————–>> Destruction
Macro-focused <<——————————————–>> Micro-focused
Freeing <<———————————————————->> Oppressive
LEARNING <<—————————————–>> Imposed Ignorance
How can we better affect healthy and robust organizational culture? Just as with our personal health, knowing how to do better means very little………unless we actually choose to do better.
The burning question: Whatcha gonna do about it?
*If you’d like to read more of nc’s blatherings, go to nc’s Recursive Learning.
Nelson Coulter
Nelson Coulter has held a lot of titles: rancher, educator, author, musician, entrepreneur, coach, mentor, consultant, and professor. He has coached, taught, and been published in many settings. He has served in public schools of all shapes, sizes, and contexts. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice at Louisiana State University - Shreveport. His most cherished titles, however, are the ones not attached to career identity: son, husband, dad, and granddad.
