Understanding Culture and Communication

Posted by | October 24, 2013 | VZ Communications Speaks Out | No Comments

Suggested Reading: http://athrivingworkplace.com/2013/10/08/culture-and-communications-two-sides-of-the-same-coin/

This is a good article to help explain the idea of  “culture” and the role that communication plays in establishing it. In a nutshell, culture defines how things get done in our companies.

Culture = acceptable behavior.

As part of doing things, people interact and share messages — that is, the rules of the road.

Communication = defines acceptable behavior.

Leadership plays a key role in creating the right work environment for people to get things done, and they demonstrate that through both their actions as well as their words. This article gives leaders some tips on how to use communication to create the desired culture. “If leaders want to influence cultural norms they need to be a part of the employee discussion. Furthermore, this isn’t a discussion that leaders can simply insert themselves into; they need to be invited in by the employees. And the cost of a ticket to that discussion … is trust, authenticity, and intimacy.”