How Your Senses Shape Work Culture: A New Approach to Co-Creation

“We taste and feel and see the truth. We do not reason ourselves into it.” – William Butler Yeats

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Work culture is on everyone’s mind, especially for Gen Y and Gen Z. In job interviews, candidates increasingly ask about culture, and organizations are realizing that culture isn’t?a problem to be solved with?a new HR program or?a quick?execution strategy.?Culture is an experience—a collective one—shaped by what we see, feel, and think.

Yet many leaders continue to focus on outdated questions: “Who can I hire to fix employee engagement?”“How much more do I need to pay to make my people happy?” These band-aid solutions may bring short-term gains, but they don’t address the deeper need for connection and purpose. To truly transform culture, we need to move toward a mindset of co-creation, where people come together to build something larger than themselves. In this shared mission, employees find the space to create their best work—and show up as their best selves.

Tiered Mindsets: How You Think, See, and Feel Culture

We experience work culture through mindsets—the lenses that shape how we see, think, and interact with people and environments. These mindsets can be grouped into three tiers:

TIER ONE

THINK: Fear Mindset

SEE: Others as Threats

FEEL: Controlled; Micromanaged

TIER TWO

THINK: Brave Mindset

SEE: Others as Competition

FEEL: Empowered but Needing Control

TIER THREE

THINK: Brave Together Mindset

SEE: Others by Potential

FEEL: Connected; Shared Flow

With a Tier 1 Fear Mindset, you either accept or reject culture based on external forces. This mindset drives the Great Resignation and Quiet Quitting—people chasing better environments but finding themselves stuck in distrust and disconnection.

A Tier 2 Brave Mindset allows you to take control of your work life, advancing your career or pursuing entrepreneurship. But when leaders over-control their desired outcomes, they unintentionally create environments that breed fear, undermining the culture they aim to build.

The Tier 3 Brave Together Mindset moves beyond control in favor of connection. Here, leaders co-create with teams, building cultures founded on empathy, creative identity, and deep trust. This mindset enables teams to thrive through meaningful relationships and shared goals.

Mindsets That Shape Culture

The mindset you bring to work each day shapes more than just your own experience—it influences the entire culture around you. Think about it: when opportunities, credit, or resources feel scarce, competition and distrust can take hold. But when you approach your work with a mindset of abundance, you naturally create room for collaboration, idea-sharing, and collective wins. The same applies to how you view growth. Sticking to what’s comfortable may feel safe, but a growth mindset—one that embraces challenges and learns from failures—opens the door to creativity, innovation, and progress.

As a leader, your mindset is even more influential. When you handle challenges with humility and optimism, you show your team that it’s okay to be vulnerable and persevere. Your actions signal that it’s not about perfection, but about showing up and moving forward together. This kind of mindset doesn’t just stay with you—it ripples through your team, empowering them to embrace the same principles.

Perceptions of Workplace Dynamics

How you perceive what’s happening at work plays a powerful role in shaping your experience. For instance, if feedback feels like criticism or punishment, it’s easy to withdraw or disengage. But when feedback is shared with curiosity and collaboration, it feels less like a judgment and more like an opportunity to grow. That’s the key: perceptions frame how you engage with your team, leadership, and the work itself.

During times of uncertainty or change, perceptions matter even more. Do you see leadership decisions as unclear or inconsistent? That can erode trust and alignment. On the other hand, when communication is transparent, expectations are clear, and actions match words, alignment becomes possible. Your perception of the workplace shapes how you show up and connect with others—and it’s worth ensuring those perceptions are based on trust and clarity.

The Emotional Underpinnings of Work Culture

Work culture is about more than perks and mission statements—it’s about how you feel in your daily interactions. Do you feel valued, trusted, and respected? Or do you sense tension, disengagement, or uncertainty? Positive emotions like trust and belonging help bridge connection, collaboration, and innovation. On the flip side, fear and frustration create barriers, leaving you and your team feeling isolated and stuck.

When you feel seen and supported, you can contribute authentically and confidently. That’s what builds meaningful culture—a brave space where collaboration thrives because people feel valued and understood. But it starts with emotional awareness, both in yourself and in how you connect with others. By showing trust and respect, you can help create a workplace where innovation isn’t just possible—it’s inevitable.

KEY TAKEAWAYS: How to Shape Culture with Your Senses

1. Choose your mindset. Decide whether to actively shape or passively accept your work culture. Are you contributing to a culture you believe in?
2. Show up intentionally. Start conversations with purpose, listen deeply, and engage with others. This builds trust and invites co-ownership of the work experience.
3. Prioritize principles over control. Focus on strengthening relationships and creating space for collaboration and creativity instead of controlling outcomes.

Co-Creation Is the Future of Culture

You don’t have to wait for a company-wide cultural shift to feel more connected at work. By adopting the Brave Together Mindset, you can start to shape a collaborative work environment, starting now. Move past fear by embracing a principled approach that is focused on trust, openness, and shared purpose. As you inspire a co-creative culture, you’ll discover work that is not only more fulfilling but also deeply meaningful.

How can your mindset, perception, and emotions evolve to help co-create the culture you desire?

Ian Clawson is a co-founder with Chris Deaver of BraveCore, a consultancy that helps leaders build cultures people love; and co-author of Brave Together: Lead by Design, Spark Creativity, and Shape the Future with the Power of Co-Creation.