I am not the first person to say this: culture is both hard to describe and influence. But I believe I have an interesting way to go about trying. I was recently asked about cultural differences between the companies I have worked for which is making me rethink how to answer that question by answering this question.
How do ideas move through the company?
If you objectively think and write down an answer, you can begin to describe the culture of a company.
The most recent idea started from the executive team. The CEO asked for this so we went and executed the idea. The idea did not produce the results we expected. This would be a culture that is authoritarian and submissive.
Another way an idea moves through the organization. Let’s keep it with the idea coming from the CEO. But now someone takes the idea and converses with three peers, stakeholders, or team members about it. Then throws it outside the company walls to a few users or industry experts. Using these discussions and data research, the person comes back with a recommendation and proposal on if and how to execute this idea. Some themes that emerge are teamwork, curiosity, conviction, thoughtfulness, and focus.
Rooted in these quick examples are decisions and behaviors by people within the company that ultimately make up the culture.