Corporate Culture in Three Words
Everyone talks about culture like it’s a slogan, a vibe, a tagline slapped on a website, or something you can create in a two-day offsite with sticky notes and a catered lunch. But it’s not. Culture is deeper than that. So just what is it?
It’s what we think when no one’s listening, what we do when no one’s watching, and what we say when it’s time to put words to what we believe. That’s the difference. Culture isn’t created—it’s revealed. Through the rhythm of think, do, say.
THINK.
Culture isn’t a handbook or binder. It’s not a poster on the wall. It starts with what we believe about ourselves and our organization. Culture begins in the mind – with how we think. It’s a collective agreement between people who show up every day and decide what kind of company they’re creating…
• Are we a place that plays it safe or pushes boundaries?
• Are we generous or do we only look out for ourselves?
• Do we believe the best in each other or are we always looking over our shoulders?
• Are we a place that values busy or values impact?
The fact is that thoughts don’t stay thoughts for long. They leak. They come out in how we lead meetings, talk to each other behind closed doors, or respond to mistakes. This leads to the second word.
DO.
Do is where life is breathed into culture. If you want to know the essence of a company’s culture, don’t bother reading its mission statement. Instead, watch how decisions are made. Or how conflict is handled. Or how leaders act when no one is watching. Or…
• How we behave when the stakes are high and the pressure is on.
• Whether we take responsibility for our mistakes.
Do is where culture earns its stripes. But there’s one more important factor before culture is complete.
SAY.
A strong culture is never silent. It’s not just felt. It’s spoken, reinforced, and shared. When we say what we believe, what we value, and what we expect, it becomes tangible and something people can hold on to.
It becomes the language of the culture. Not just spin. Not a manufactured message or a catchy slogan. It’s clarity, alignment, and the story we tell each other that happens to be true.
When what we THINK, what we DO, and what we SAY are in harmony – that’s culture. Yes, it’s a brand, but it reaches far beyond the brand. It’s a living, breathing alignment of belief, behavior, and voice. When all three are in sync, people sense it. They feel it.
So, here are the questions you need to ask yourself and your team:
• How do we think? What do we think?
• How do we do what we do?
• How does the way we think and do match what we say?
If you can’t answer these questions, don’t panic! Don’t rebrand! Just start listening. Start noticing. Then…
Think. Do. Say.
In that order, for as long as it takes until it’s who you are.
