Culture Isn't the Poster on the Wall

Too often, we see companies declare their culture rather than build it. But the truth? Culture doesn’t live in values statements—it lives in the smallest moments:

• Who’s allowed to work from home 

• Who gets recognition 

• Who’s “always in the room” and who’s overlooked 

• How people act when no one is watching

And leaders set the tone—every time. Research backs it up:

Harvard Business Review found that when employees see consistent behavior from leaders aligned with company values, they are 12x more likely to be engaged. But when actions and values don’t match, trust evaporates.

Fastest ways to erode culture?

- Mandating office presence for some but allowing remote work for “favorites”

- Ignoring toxic behavior because someone delivers results

- Preaching inclusion but rewarding conformity

- Letting silence stand in place of accountability.

Culture isn’t a thing you fix with swag or all-hands slides. It’s the sum of your decisions—especially the hard ones.Leaders shape it in real-time. Every policy. Every promotion. Every quiet exception.

Want to strengthen culture? Start with fairness. Clarity. And consistency.

Global HR Executive Search. US, UK, Europe, Asia Pacific, APAC