by Chris Edwards

I’m not at my best when I drive. I’m not sure many of us are. It is worse when I’m trying to get to work in time for a meeting. For whatever reason, there always seems to be more cars on the road when I’m in a hurry.

“Where did all these cars come from? I hate traffic,” I complain to my wife. We carpool together.

“Chris, we’re not in traffic. We are traffic.”

I pause.

Of course she’s right. I’m in their way, the same way they’re in mine. Not to mention, I don’t have to drive. I could just as easily ride my bike. Driving is convenient. I’m adding to the problem.

Is it really any different within your company? How often do I find myself behaving in a way for no other reason that it is how everyone else is behaving. I don’t necessarily want to, but maybe I don’t want to ruffle people’s feathers?

Maybe everyone else is just as annoyed with how things are, and nobody wants to be the one to do something differently?

Culture is made up of the collective behaviours of those who work in it.

You aren’t in the culture. You are the culture.

First step to change? Change your behaviour. See who follows suit. You might find that there are those you work with who are waiting for someone else to take the first step.

Monday morning I’m going to ride my bike to work.