Culture is what your systems reward

Culture is what you reward

Values posters do not shape behaviour. Promotion criteria, recognition, meeting norms, and what leaders tolerate do.

Systems that encode culture

• Hiring scorecards aligned to values
• Recognition that names the behaviour, not only the result
• Performance goals that include how work gets done
• Onboarding that teaches norms in the first two weeks
• Consequences when values are violated, including at the top

Reset culture in five moves

1. Audit what currently gets rewarded.
2. Pick three behaviours that must become non-negotiable.
3. Rewrite one people process to reinforce them.
4. Train managers to coach those behaviours.
5. Measure adoption for 90 days and publish learning.

See how NJIWA approaches people and culture.