#77: When culture becomes dangerous

I have stressed the importance of organizational culture quite a few times on air, so let me for once argue against culture.

Your culture is meant to smooth the way things are done around here by defining what is acceptable and ‘normal’. However, because your culture aims to stamp out the unacceptable and the ‘abnormal’, it can force conformity in thinking and behavior.

Therein lies the danger: your culture can inhibit creativity, innovation and change.

Note that unacceptable or abnormal behavior can be perceived as ‘normal’ in a different context. This is so because ‘abnormal’ behavior is defined as such by those in a group who are powerful enough to make the definition stick.

History shows how often abnormal behavior has triggered beneficial change. Therapists and coaches thus run the risk of delaying or inhibiting social change and paradigm shifts by trying to cure abnormal behavior.

I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am