Organizational culture can be visualized as an iceberg, consisting of three interconnected layers:

1. Behaviors, Systems, Policies, and Processes

• Represent the visible aspects of how things are done within the organization.

2. Ideals, Goals, Values, and Aspirations

• Defined by leadership, these elements set the direction and purpose of the organization.

3. Underlying Assumptions

• The unseen foundation of culture that guides behaviors and decision-making.

Leadership’s Role in Shaping Culture

A leader’s influence can create one of three general culture types, each with distinct impacts on the organization:

1. Constructive Culture

• Characteristics:
  Encourages organizational goals through people development, promotes teamwork and synergy, and enhances adaptability and effectiveness at all levels.
• Impact:
  Fosters collaboration, innovation, and sustainable success.

2. Aggressive/Defensive Culture

• Characteristics:
  Focuses on individual needs over the collective, creating stress, high turnover, and inconsistent performance.
• Impact:
  Prioritizes short-term gains at the expense of long-term organizational health.

3. Passive/Defensive Culture

• Characteristics:
  Subordinates individuals to rigid systems, stifles creativity, and discourages initiative.
• Impact:
  Limits growth and allows the organization to stagnate.

Organizational success depends on aligning leadership influence with a constructive culture, nurturing a foundation of trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

_{Sources: CultureIQ, HumanSynergisticsCircumplex}