It is often said...

That culture has communications for breakfast. Or it is not what you said, just how you said it. Or it is not what you said, it's how you make me feel.

If we learn anything at all about communications, it is the effect that matters. And it matters more than content and intentions.

If culture matters so much than it must sit within the core of an organisation (or a person). It must be clearly defined and lived by all from the very top to everyone that matters in it and to it.

The phrase "culture has communications for breakfast", a variation of the more popular "culture eats strategy for breakfast," attributed to Peter Drucker, emphasises the dominance of organisational culture over communication efforts.

No matter how strong or sophisticated the communication strategies are, they will always be overshadowed by the prevailing organisational culture.

If we are a collaborative, open organisation, it will show. It will be apparent in the way we handle feedback and press conferences. If the organisation is dominated by one person (or oversized committee), it will show in the way decisions are made and communicated internally and externally. The list goes on.

So how, if culture eats everything that we do?

Let's start at the very beginning, a very good way to start (Fraulein Maria in the Sound of Music).

How do we want people to feel about our organisation? Let's answer this fundamental question the best we can and take it from there to begin understanding what we are. Then the culture question can take its course.

The photo was taken at a crepe breakfast place in Japan. Its simplicity of seating underscores the fineness of its food.

#organisationalculture #whatmatters #communicationsculture

Juat: 201224