This is why your team is having a bumpy ride

Picture this: You’re driving down the road, feeling confident about your journey. But there’s a slow leak in one of your tyres that you’re unaware of. The car starts to drift slightly, and the ride isn’t as smooth as it used to be. You ignore it, thinking it’s just the road. Eventually, the tyre goes flat, and you’re stranded on the side of the road, wondering how you got there.

This is exactly what happens when you misunderstand or overlook culture in your team. It’s like that slow leak—subtle at first, but if ignored, it can derail your team’s performance, leaving people feeling isolated, hopeless and lost.

Culture: The Unseen Force Behind Team Behaviour

Culture is the underlying force in a business that shapes every interaction, decision, and outcome. When leaders get it right, their teams run smoothly, like a well-oiled machine. But when it’s off, even by a little, it’s like driving with that slow leak—things start to feel wobbly, and before you know it, performance takes a nosedive.

Common Pitfalls: Misunderstanding Culture

1. Thinking Culture is Set in Stone: Culture isn’t something you set once and forget. It’s more like a garden that needs constant tending. It grows even if you aren't paying attention. Ignore it, and the weeds will take over. Your team’s culture evolves with every leadership change, every new hire, and every shift in business priorities. If you’re not paying attention, it can grow in ways that choke performance, instead of nourishing it.

2. Underestimating Leadership’s Impact: Leaders are the gardeners of culture. Their actions, attitudes, and decisions water the plants—or the weeds. If leaders aren’t actively cultivating the right environment, they’re likely contributing to a culture that’s more of a tangled mess than a thriving garden.

3. Missing the Signs of Cultural Drift: Cultural misalignment often starts small. Maybe it’s a leader who says they value teamwork but only rewards individual achievements. Or a company that talks about innovation but punishes risk-taking. These little inconsistencies can build up, leading to a flat tyre of disengagement and confusion.

Fixing the Leak: Strategies to Get Culture Back on Track

1. Check Your Culture Regularly: Just as you’d check your tyre pressure before a long drive, regularly assess your team’s culture. Use tools like Performance Climate System to measure team climate, and see where the slow leaks might be (ideally before they cause a blowout). Measure enough teams, and you'll be closer to understanding what's happening in your company culture.

2. Get Leaders On-Board: Leaders set the tone. Make sure they’re actively shaping the culture you want, not accidentally watering the weeds. They need to be hands-on, engaged, and ready to make the tough decisions that keep the culture healthy .

3. Act Quickly on Misalignment: Don’t wait for a flat tyre. When you see cultural drift—whether it’s misaligned values, inconsistent messaging, or just a general feeling of unease—address it right away. A little top-up of air - now - can save you a lot of trouble down the road.

Final Thoughts

Misunderstanding culture is like ignoring that slow leak in your team’s tyre. It might not seem like a big deal at first, but if you don’t pay attention, your teams will end-up feeling stuck and stranded. By regularly checking-in on your culture, engaging your leaders, and addressing issues as they arise, you can keep your team rolling smoothly down the road to success. Don’t let a small leak turn into a big problem—tend to your culture, and your team will be on the road to success.