Culture and Climate Activity for Leadership Development

This is a self-reflection activity for distinguishing between the culture and climate of an organization and what can and cannot easily be changed. It may be used for individual self-study or as a classroom activity.

Instruction: Read the short article below on What things can you easily change within an organization and then complete the reflection activity below it.

After the learners have completed the reading and activity, divide them into small groups. Have them discuss what can easily be changed within their organization, and what would take a full commitment of the organization to change.

Note: This activity is used in conjunction with the section on Culture and Climate.

What things can you easily change within an organization?

Culture

Changing the culture of an organization takes the full commitment of every leader within the organization. You cannot just tell people, “From now on its going to be done this way.”

For example, when the Armed Forces started to integrate women into what were traditional male jobs, a great resistance was put forth by the men who believed that the type of soldiering skills they were performing could only be performed by men. Many of them believed in equal rights, but the culture they worked and lived in made them believe that their work was strictly a man's job... they could not picture a women doing a job that was traditionally performed by males.

Climate

On the other hand, climate is a feeling by the employees on how they perceive that something should be done at the minute. These feelings can normally be changed within a few hours, days or weeks. The workers get these feelings from their both leaders and peers, formally and informally. Feelings are transmitted to them by how their leaders act and model, and what they praise and ignore.

For example, you might believe your department needs to provide better customer service. You then take the necessary actions to help your department start performing customer service better. In the majority of organizations, your actions will not be met with great resistance throughout the ranks. Why? Because "not providing good customer service" is not part of the heritage of most organizations. Thus, if someone wants to change it, it does not really affect others within the organization.

Reflections on the Organization

Listed below are some of the items almost every organization does. Below each item are the words climate (feel of the organization) and culture (the way we do things). Think about your organization and circle the word that you believe best describes it.

1. Leadership style of upper management
   • Climate
   • Culture
2. Leadership style of supervisors and the manager I report to
   • Climate
   • Culture
3. Organizational Rules and Policies
   • Climate
   • Culture
4. The way we reward people
   • Climate
   • Culture
5. The way we punish people
   • Climate
   • Culture
6. How we treat our customers
   • Climate
   • Culture
7. How we treat our suppliers and vendors
   • Climate
   • Culture
8. Our mission statement
   • Climate
   • Culture
9. How we celebrate success
   • Climate
   • Culture
10. How the employees feel they are part of the organization
    • Climate
    • Culture

Next Steps

Read Concepts of Leadership

Return to the Leadership Training and Development Outline

Notes