Every company develops its own business culture. There is no wrong culture, nor is there a right culture. It simply is. The problems come into play when business culture is inconsistent or incompatible either externally or internally.
I believe that it is easier to use an illustration to demonstrate business cultures. Consider the following image:
Now picture your culture. If you had to compare your culture to the four groups above, which would be the best fit?
• Is your culture more like a symphony or orchestra? Is there a conductor who orchestrates everyone’s movements? Is there set music where everyone knows their part? Improvising is frowned upon, discouraged or even punished because it is outside the norm?
• Is your culture more like a heavy metal band? Is it loud? Is it driving? Does it push hard? Does it break paradigms? Is it a law unto itself?
• Is your culture more like a jazz band? Does it value improvisation? Are there a lot of significant solo parts? Does it go with the flow? Is it opportunistic?
• Is your culture more like a folk music group? Does it have a message? Is it interested in people? Does it advocate harmony and fairness?
Again – each culture is fine by itself depending on the environment it chooses to do business in. Conflicts arise when business cultures change their identity on a temporary basis. Conflicts also arise when external cultures interact? Conflicts can also arise when different levels of the company operate as different cultures.
Have some fun. Try to identify your business culture as one of the music groups above. List out your cultural preferences and identify the culture of your significant business partners. I am willing to bet that recent conflicts stem from cultural differences. By the way if it is not due to business culture then it is most likely due to individual style or type differences. You can even see the music analogy work for individuals – Heavy Metal; Drivers - Orchestra; Analytical – Jazz; Expressive – Folk; Amiable.
© 2009 – Jim Lindell