Organizational Culture and Norms

“For individuals, character is destiny. For organizations, culture is destiny.” - Tony Hsieh

Expectations, guidelines, rules and standards that guide behavior in our organizations are the bedrock of our culture and are often identified as norms. Norms are generally informal and may not ever be spoken or written down. They are important as they create cohesion and shape culture. 

These standards develop gradually over time through past events, storytelling, and conscious decisions. They paint a picture of the organization - who we are, what we stand for and where we’re heading. Our norms are closely linked to our values. Every organization and every team has norms.

Two types of norms are at work in organizations: articulated norms and unspoken norms. Successful leaders are aware of how both articulated norms and unspoken norms impact their organization. Spending time to more formally codify standards and norms is a great way to hold team members accountable and also allows for others to more easily assimilate into the team/organization. 

Unspoken norms are (mostly) unarticulated rules and as such leaders often have to listen and observe and reflect deeply in order to see how they may be affecting the organization - positively or negatively. Often the key to identifying norms that don’t serve your organization is looking for tolerated behaviors that aren’t in alignment with your values. 

What are the spoken and unspoken norms in your organization? How are they serving your journey to excellence? How will you make them visible in order to address them?