Culture Is the Way

CHAPTER 10The Ultimate Differentiator Is Leadership

There are only two ways to influence human behavior. You can manipulate it, or you can inspire it.

—Simon Sinek, author of Start with Why

The ultimate differentiator in any organization is the performance and effectiveness of its leaders. If two equally talented teams or businesses compete in the same market, the team or business with the more effective leaders will prevail. And when it comes to changing the culture of an organization or making it a more inspiring and high‐performing place to work, the ultimate impact and success will depend on how well the organization's leaders collectively work together.

This cannot be avoided. This cannot be denied. This cannot be overlooked. Nothing can make up for a lack of leadership performance. How a company's leaders act daily, how they interact with and treat others, and the examples they set send a strong message to the rest of the organization to follow suit.

When assessing an IPO, 90% of investors believe that the performance and quality of an organization's leadership team form the most important factor. When the leadership team works together toward a common vision, the probability of exceeding the median financial performance increases by 1.9 times.¹

Most people are aware that leaders are important during change efforts, especially when there is a change in culture. However, many still underestimate the overall influence and impact that all leaders have. But I've learned ...