Building an Unstoppable Culture: Part 2 - The 3 Pillars of Culture

In Part One: The Foundation of Culture, I explored the critical role consistency plays in culture creation and the impact of repeatable actions by everyone in the organization. I delve into why so many leaders struggle with culture building and introduce the first steps towards constructing a robust cultural framework.

In this Part Two: The 3 Pillars of Culture, I examine the core elements that constitute a strong organizational culture: Promise, People, and Process. This part provides actionable insights into defining your organization's pillars and aligning them with your cultural vision.

These pillars are the essence of a thriving culture, guiding operations, decision-making, and business success. Building an Unstoppable Culture is a journey that demands commitment, adaptability, and effort from all members.

Let's empower your organization's culture to become its most powerful asset.

Part Two: The 3 Pillars of Culture

The 3 Pillars of an Unstoppable Culture: Promise, People, and Process

In the journey toward crafting an Unstoppable Culture, it's clear that the true strength of an organization's culture is anchored not just in its vision or strategy, but in its structure. Sharing insights into the pivotal role of culture, Steve Robinson, Chick-fil-A's former Chief Marketing Officer, celebrated for fostering an innovative corporate culture, once imparted a piece of succinct yet profound wisdom:

"Culture can be the nurturing ground for leaders." - Steve Robinson

I had the privilege of sharing the keynote stage with Steve at a Cox Communications offsite corporate event, aimed at empowering one of COX’s business units to develop their own Unstoppable Culture. His observation, enriched by this understanding, highlights a vital truth: the quality of your culture directly influences the caliber of leadership and innovation that emerges from it, underlining the immense responsibility leadership holds in shaping cultural outcomes.

The operative word in Steve's quotation is “can.” Culture “can” be the fertile soil that produces visionary leaders or, conversely, it can become the ground that harbors groups of disgruntled individuals. The decision of what kind of “products” your culture yields rests squarely with its leadership.

Expanding on the foundation established in Part One of this series, let's explore the core of organizational identity: the 3 Pillars of Culture—Promise, People, and Process. These pillars do not just form the basis of a flourishing culture; they serve as the framework on which every successful organization builds its distinct identity.

Promise: The Core of Your Culture's Identity

Crafting an Unstoppable Culture hinges on the "Promise" concept, representing an organization's utmost commitment. This Promise goes beyond words, embodying a profound verbal pledge between entities. Leaders should consider this Promise as the foundation of their organization's culture—a binding commitment to all stakeholders. 

The Promise serves as an organization's cultural DNA, outlining its purpose, communities served, and operational conduct.

Like the "Commander’s Intent" in SEAL Teams, it sets expectations and priorities, guiding decision-making, even without explicit instructions.

Operationally, the Promise influences all aspects of an organization, guiding strategic planning, daily decisions, hiring, product development, and customer service strategies. For example, a tech firm prioritizing responsible innovation reflects this Promise in user privacy and ethical product development. Likewise, a social change nonprofit's Promise guides community engagement and advocacy efforts.

A well-articulated Promise is more than intent—it's a living manifesto shaping an organization's culture, fostering excellence and integrity. It aligns individuals with the organization's mission, driving purpose, passion, and persistence toward shared goals. The Promise is not just a foundation; it's the organization's soul, fueling its pursuit of success.

People: The Embodiment of Your Promise

The strength of any organization lies in its people and their actions. A clear promise guides leaders through key stages of an employee's journey: hiring, inspiring, parting ways, and celebrating milestones. When coaching senior leadership teams, my first step is redefining their roles as custodians of the organization's promise.

Senior leaders must embody and uphold the promise, setting an example for others.

Failing to do so weakens the organization's culture. Leaders need to model promise behaviors, integrating the promise into all operations. From hiring to inspiring and celebrating, the promise should be central.

When hiring, consider if the person aligns with the promise. Inspire employees by connecting their work to the organization's mission. Celebrate achievements that uphold the promise, and part ways with those who don't.

By fully integrating the promise, it becomes a core part of every decision and action. Leaders shape a culture where the promise is lived by all, reinforcing values authentically.

Process: The Mechanisms that Support Your Culture

Processes within an organization play a critical role in its functioning, guaranteeing the effective provision of services to customers and stakeholders. These activities, whether catering to customers or communities, play a crucial role beyond task completion. They help embed the organization's culture in daily operations, fostering a strong dedication to keeping commitments.

As organizations aim to foster a strong culture, evaluating processes is key.

Leaders must assess each department's procedures with a pivotal question: “Do these processes uphold our organization’s promises?” This question helps gauge alignment between organizational commitments and the mechanisms used to fulfill them.

The alignment, or lack thereof, between processes and promises can significantly affect an organization's integrity and reputation. If processes don’t support the organization's promises, trust can erode, despite noble intentions. For instance, a company pledging environmental sustainability while using harmful manufacturing processes undermines its promise, leading to disillusionment among employees and customers.

Aligning processes with the organization’s promises demands ongoing efforts to design, review, and refine processes continuously. This integration ensures promises guide operational decisions, fostering organizational efficiency and reinforcing cultural values for a cohesive and authentic experience.

Promise, People, and Process: The Bedrock of Organizational Culture

As we advance through this series on creating an Unstoppable Culture, I've laid a robust foundation by emphasizing consistency and the pivotal role of individual actions in shaping an organization.

With a focus on the Three Pillars of Culture—Promise, People, and Process—I show how these elements intertwine to forge a resilient and dynamic organizational culture.

The pursuit of an Unstoppable Culture reveals that an organization's true power is embedded in its culture, not solely in its vision or strategic goals.

Recapping my previous points:

• Promise is the solemn vow an organization makes to its stakeholders, guiding strategic planning and daily decisions.
• People are the carriers of this promise, with leadership playing a crucial role in modeling and nurturing the organization’s values.
• Process ensures consistent delivery of promises by aligning operational aspects with core commitments.

Each of these pillars is vital, but their true power is unlocked when they function cohesively, creating a culture that is not only aspirational but deeply embedded in every facet of the organization.

Reflecting and Acting on Your Cultural Strategy

These three pillars—Promise, People, and Process—are interlinked, each reinforcing the others. Together, they form the bedrock of any Unstoppable Culture, dictating how organizations navigate the challenges of the modern business landscape while maintaining their core identity and values.

As we continue our series on Unstoppable Culture, we now turn our attention to the practical implementation of the Three Pillars of Culture: Promise, People, and Process. This stage is crucial for weaving these foundational elements into the fabric of your organization, ensuring they resonate deeply within every aspect of your operations.

• Revisit Your Promise: Take another look at the foundational commitments of your organization. Are they as clear and reflective of your values as they should be? Make sure that every leader in your organization not only understands this promise but also knows how to actualize it daily.
• Assess Your People Practices: Review how your actions regarding hiring, motivating, and even saying goodbye to employees resonate with the culture you're aiming to build. Reflect on recent decisions in these areas to gauge their consistency with your desired culture.
• Review Your Processes: Examine your operational processes closely. Determine if each one supports or detracts from your cultural promise, and be ready to implement necessary adjustments to better reflect your core values.

Preparing for Part Three: Closing the Cultural Gap

As we look forward to the next part of our series, Part Three: Closing the Cultural Gap, we will explore strategies to ensure your organizational culture not only aspires to high ideals but also lives up to them in daily practice. This upcoming section will offer practical advice on maintaining a vibrant, adaptive culture that stays true to its core values, even as your organization evolves.

Stay engaged as we delve deeper into strategies for bridging the gap between aspirational culture and actual practice, ensuring your culture thrives and positively affects all stakeholders. The journey towards a truly dynamic and sustainable culture continues, and together, we can make lasting changes that resonate both within and beyond your organization.

Remember, We Are All Born to Be Unstoppable

It is our Choice to Be Unstoppable. Check out my Books and our Resources and Courses to develop the mindset and actions required to thrive and accomplish more than you originally thought possible. And if you have any questions about motivational speaking, just drop me a line!