Workplace Culture
  Michael Henders Cultures At Work
  
 
 
 
 
Language is the lifeblood of culture
I'm regularly talking with clients about the impact language is having on their workplace cultures,

A recent interviewee on a podcast about language and culture said "language in a culture dictates not what you can say but what you MUST say." How true that is. Right now, in your organization,...

  I'm regularly talking with clients about the impact language is having on their workplace cultures,

A recent interviewee on a podcast about language and culture said "language in a culture dictates not what you can say but what you MUST say." How true that is. Right now, in your organization, there are certain words/phrases that people must use in order to be accepted in the culture as one of the tribe. For example, words like 'quick fix' don't fit a culture where solution finding and considered approaches to issues are key. Just as the words 'long term approach' don't fit a culture of quick returns and fast turnaround of resources/information.

It's important for leaders to be aware of the words being used within their organization as words are a primary way to express concepts like quality, service, productivity... For organizations wanting to introduce 'new' concepts as part of a new or developing culture.
using 'old' words potentially keep 'old' concepts alive within the organization. So for change to 'stick' any old 'must' use words need to be replaced with new ones.

A not altogether fictional example of this is highlighted in the role of the character Syme in George Orwell's book 1984. In the book, Syme is lexicographer in the Ministry of Truth (due to be renamed Minitrue) working on creating 'newspeak,' a new lexicon of words acceptable to 'Big Brother.' Creating 'newspeak' is done by purging the language of 'old' words used to express concepts incompatible with the political regime of Oceana. At one point Syme says "Even the party slogans are changing. How will you say freedom is slavery when the word freedom no longer exists?" Take away the concept of freedom (an incompatible concept) and there is no longer a need for the word freedom (old word)

Tip.

Check what the 'must' use words are in your tribes and the language used by your leaders. Then you can develop and align the language you need with the culture you want.

To find out more about how to do this, talk with me about my 'Get Tribal! Culture Planning Workshop', which teaches people how to identify 'must' use language as part of mapping and planning their workplace cultures

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