We presume to be able to tell you something about your culture and how to use or adapt it in such a way that you can become more successful. Increase your performance. Be more innovative. So, what exactly is culture to us? Equally important, how do you create and maintain it in such a way that it keeps adapting to change.

There is no real universally accepted definition on what culture is. Different disciplines and scolars may approach it from different angles. This is ours. In essence, culture is a compass for our beliefs and actions, fueling our convictions and shaping our identity and social cohesion in more ways than we realize. It establishes shared values, traditions and norms, it fosters a sense of belonging, it shapes our morality and it motivates us to reach certain goals. This can be at any level. Country, company, department, team.

If healthy, it is dynamic and fosters innovation by adapting to new challenges and opportunities. It embraces and celebrates cultural diversity. Overlap in values creates a sense of belonging. Unique perspectives of individuals gains us insight into new ways of thinking and solving. We unite on common ground and use the friction where we differ to create and innovate. It allows us in other words, to shine.

If unhealthy, it is dead in the water. When the level of conformism exceeds the need for maintaining your culture, it stagnates. It will stand in the way of progress. It will silence and oust dissenting voices and will create more of the same. Not realizing that what once made it successful is now the exact thing that holds it back. The innovator’s dillemma by Clayton Christensen is a nice example of how things can go horribly wrong.

Embrace your culture as a means to shine. Know your values and adapt the resulting norms to your unique context. Hire people who fit to reenforce it, hire people who have enough overlap to work in it yet are different enough to create the friction needed to innovate. Find the right balance between the people who reinforce your culture and those who challenge it enough to keep adapting. Safeguard the essence of your culture, while celebrating those who dare to be different. The trailblazers unaffraid to challenge tabboos, explore the unknown, and create fresh ideas that resonate with your culture and it’s values. You need both to truly adapt. The people who come up with the groundbreaking ideas, and the ones who can bring them to live and turn them into tangible products or service.