Managing the Matrix: The Secret to Surviving and Thriving in Your Organization

15

Understanding the Importance of Culture and Strong Leadership in the Matrix

Debra's next session with Johann was mostly about a situation she was facing where she thought EI might be helpful.

Towards the end, however, Debra brought Johann back to a point they had touched on earlier – the importance of the manager and their manager and their manager's manager.

“In other words the culture,” Johann said. “Culture is simply ‘the way we do things around here’ or ‘what behaviours get rewarded and what gets punished’. So of course the culture is important. An intelligent person with high EI can attend every training course going, be mentored and coached and use these tools diligently. But if she constantly comes up against a culture where behaviours are allowed, or even encouraged, to limit people from using their EI tools for the good of the company, then eventually she will stop using them to the detriment of her work and the company. Or she may turn to ‘the dark side’.” Johann dropped his voice and impersonated a movie trailer voice-over.

“And although we're all responsible for culture I think it's true that ‘the fish rots from the head,’ so the senior management have a real role to play. If the boss's response to the most mild-mannered question is to start shouting and spitting or to ignore it then don't be surprised if people learn not to use at least some of the tools that build EI.

“And it's self-fulfilling – once that culture is there it doesn't change. Newcomers adapt to ...