How does leadership influence organizational culture?

Cote, C. (2023, March 2). How does leadership influence organizational culture? Harvard Business School Online. https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/how-does-leadership-influence-organizational-culture

This article examines the profound impact leadership behavior has on shaping and maintaining organizational culture. Cote argues that leaders act as the "architects" of culture by setting standards through their actions, rewards systems, and communication styles. The text explores how a positive culture leads to higher employee engagement and better financial performance, while toxic leadership can quickly erode a company's foundation. It highlights the importance of consistency between a leader’s stated values and their actual daily behavior, providing examples of how leadership transitions can intentionally shift or reinforce cultural norms. The author concludes that cultural change must start at the top, as employees model their behavior based on the examples set by management.