Cultivating a cultural language

Every great culture has a shared language. The agreed behaviours, the phrases that get repeated, the way ‘how we do things here’ gets said out loud often enough that it simply becomes how we do things here.

Researchers call this cumulative cultural evolution. Essentially, we get better together by learning from the people we share a language with, passing on what works so nobody has to start from scratch.

It's why behaviour is caught, not taught. Agree how you'll treat each other, talk about those behaviours often, and others pick them up without the need for a Powerpoint presentation that lists all of the ways that it can be demonstrated.

Similarly,  if you build a shared vision, then actually use it to make your decisions, then before long it becomes an instinct.

It’s the reason that culture should be a large part of the induction. Not only the things we do well, but also the opportunities for improvement too. This is important because the shared language needs continual feeding and watering to ensure it remains fit for purpose and relevant. 

Cultures don't coast to success; they’re deliberately cultivated.