Recipe for Great Cultures | Game | Shape The Culture
Hello there! Welcome to my weekly LEAPS.
You’re receiving this email because you subscribed to my weekly Wednesday feature or our mailing list. Every Wednesday, I share 5 things using our LEAPS approach:
Learn: something new or an idea
Energy: an energy (good or bad) word and it’s meaning
Action: something to do
Processing: a question to consider
Shout out: something or someone that I want to celebrate or acknowledge
LEARN
Something Worth Sharing
Recipe for Great Cultures
I have to admit that my daughter has got me watching Netflix’s show America’s Sweethearts - Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. At first I wasn’t that keen, but it turned out to be fascinating. Whilst I’m not into their dancing, high kicks, teeny tiny shorts and the big hair - I do find the ambition of girls wanting to be part of the squad, and the strength of the culture, to be truly inspiring.
I was struck by a number of key similarities to the New Zealand rugby team - the All Blacks. These similarities have also shown up in great teams I’ve worked with in a business-sense. The recipe of a successful team is not about rugby, status or cheerleaders. Great cultures all have:
clear and concise communication
total accountability
everyone able to be their best self
people taking full responsibility for self and the collective
openness to learning and growing
great preparation and planning
commitment - to self, individuals, team and cause
clear and agreed expectations
alignment to a clear purpose
willingness to make sacrifices
ability to step up and deal with pressure
embracing of rituals
the ability to take non-personal feedback
the feeling of safety and support: allowing self-confidence to develop
ENERGY
An emotion or energy; a stand-out word / s
Game
The word ‘game’ can have positive and negative views. Children playing games or families enjoying games night are really happy and joyful. When someone is game-playing we think of hidden agendas and politicking. So what’s the real meaning of the word?
GAME is from Old English GAMEN meaning "joy, fun; game, amusement”. It was originally formed from Proto-Germanic GA- ‘collective’ prefix + MANN "person," giving a sense of "people together".
When we have the positive word, it honours the concept of people together - when it’s used in a negative sense, it is often the opposite: people against each other.
ACTION
Something small that you can do that might make a big difference
Explore
Go and explore! Get out in the world and see what you can find in a new place perhaps, or even by having a deeper conversation with someone to explore what they think or who they are.
PROCESSING
A question to think about and consider (you can discuss this with someone or write your thoughts down)
“What were my favourite games as a child - and what was it about them I enjoyed most?”
While our identities change and evolve due to our experiences, there are some things that stay - even if a little dormant. As children we played games, so what type of game did you most enjoy? What was it about these games that was ‘your thing’? The final part of the question is to see how you can try and bring these positive things back into your life now.
I’d love for you to send me your own stories / thoughts about this. Drop me a line with your answer / thoughts on this question
SHOUT OUT
Who / what I think deserves recognition - my gratitude or to be celebrated.
Dedicated Performers
After watching Andy Murray’s Wimbledon VT and tribute as he exited the doubles competition, it made me think of how much dedication goes into the preparation. Great sports people aren’t just great for no reason. The years of practice, injuries, blood, sweat and tears are significant. Even when at the top of their game, they can’t rest. My family and I saw several musicals recently - Hamilton being one of them. The show was incredible, the music and songs were brilliant, the dances were seamless and the actors were impeccable. Of course, what we were watching was the ‘finished’ article - not the endless rehearsals, mistakes, frustrations, faltering voices or bruised bodies. My shout out is to all the dedicated performers - on sports fields, stages, swimming pools, ice rinks, cycle tracks etc.
BONUS GIFT FOR YOU
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The artwork featured in this section is all copyrighted and for private use only. If you wish to use these online, in blogs / features or in presentations etc - we are happy to discuss licences. Please get in touch. The downloads do not have watermarks.
If you’d like to discuss having your ideas, business or culture captured visually - you can also let me know via email.
LEAPS is a process used by our team and clients all the time - and even my own family on a daily basis.
I’ll be sharing a set of LEAPS each week with you and encourage you to do your own version:
L: what have you learned?
E: what’s your energy / feeling word
A: what’s one thing you need to do?
P: what are you thinking / processing?
S: who or what can you shout out?
