FLIP THE SCRIPT: Culture Makes Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Most business professionals are familiar with the quote, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” Those that have worked in negative cultures and experienced first-hand amazing strategies falling flat, or failing, fully grasp the meaning behind this statement. Even strategies developed with best intentions, supported by action plans with the highest potential for success, and driven with diverse buy-in will be consumed within the turbulence of a toxic culture. With this said, I reaffirm my absolute appreciation of Peter Drucker’s thought leadership.

- FLIP THE SCRIPT -

As a solution-driven leader, I find it’s more effective to focus on creating positive impacts through positive culture. In practice, flipping this script SOUNDS like “Culture makes breakfast, lunch, and dinner.” It FEELS like empowerment, respect, and trust. Last, but not least, flipping the script LOOKS like:

1. Effective communication - open, clear, and bi-directional.
2. Clear Expectations - mutual understanding and support.
3. Clear roles and responsibilities - individual, team, and organizational.
4. Strategic success - achieving intentional impact.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that cultural excellence alone does not achieve strategic success. A balance and intentional combination of setting effective strategy, implementing operational excellence, and executing cultural excellence are required to achieve strategic success.

The takeaway message - flip the script and leverage cultural excellence to enable strategic success.