How to Change Workplace Culture (Without Forcing It)

The Key to Leading Transformation That Lasts

Every leader wants a strong, engaged, high-performing culture. But here’s the mistake I see all the time:

👉 Leaders try to change culture by enforcing rules, instead of influencing behaviors.

You don’t create a great culture by putting up posters about teamwork. You don’t build trust by sending out an email about open communication. And you definitely don’t drive accountability by adding new layers of oversight.

Culture isn’t what you say—it’s what you do, every day.

If you want to change culture, you have to change behaviors, mindsets, and the unspoken norms that shape the way people work.

Why Culture Change Fails

🚫 It’s dictated from the top down. If change is a leadership directive instead of a shared movement, it won’t stick.

🚫 It’s about rules, not values. If people don’t believe in the change, they’ll follow the policy—but only when they have to.

🚫 Leaders don’t model the behavior. If your actions contradict your words, people will follow what you do, not what you say.

🚫 There’s no reinforcement. If behaviors aren’t recognized and rewarded, they won’t become habits.

How to Create Culture Shift That Lasts

✔ Start with Clarity
– Define what needs to change, but make it about values, not just rules. Ask: What kind of environment do we want to create?

✔ Make It a Shared Effort
– Culture isn’t dictated—it’s built together. Involve your team by asking: What would help us work better as a group?

✔ Model the Change First
– People don’t do what leaders tell them to do—they do what leaders show them is important.

✔ Reinforce the Right Behaviors
– Recognize and reward actions that align with the culture you want to build. Small moments of praise go a long way in making behaviors stick.

✔ Create Accountability Through Peer Influence
– The most powerful cultural shifts happen when teams hold each other accountable, not just when leaders enforce policies.

Try This Today: The “Culture Check” Conversation

Ask your team one simple but powerful question:

👉 “If someone new joined our team today, what would they say our culture is like?”

This reveals the real culture—not what’s in the company handbook, but what’s actually happening. Then, ask:

👉 “What’s one thing we could do better?”

That’s where your change starts.

Lead Forward by Building a Culture That Sticks

Culture isn’t a program or a policy—it’s a daily experience. The best leaders don’t try to force culture change. They live it, reinforce it, and create environments where people naturally adopt the right behaviors.

In Lead Forward!, I break down exactly how leaders influence culture—not by top-down mandates, but by shaping behaviors, trust, and team dynamics that last.

Tomorrow, we’ll continue this conversation by exploring how leaders inspire innovation—how to create a team that doesn’t just adapt to change but drives it. See you then!