Culture Renovation: 18 Leadership Actions to Build an Unshakeable Company

CHAPTER 5

STEP #2: FIGURE OUT WHAT TO KEEP

We are not deviating from who we are. We’re building on our values and our foundation.

MIKE ROMAN, CEO, 3M

The biggest part of renovating anything—whether it’s a room, a building, or an entire organization—is understanding what stays and what goes. In each, it’s important not to let sentiment get in the way of progress—a common misstep. That’s a big reason why gathering input from multiple voices is so important; it not only illuminates what the culture is today, but also helps determine the most positive and valued aspects of the company’s historical culture to carry forward.

In our research, 57 percent of organizations that were highly successful in renovating their cultures were very intentional ...