CultureStrategyFit

culturephotography

Probe quickly and deeply into norms and beliefs

Imagine asking participants to come to a workshop with three photos that represent 'the way things get done around here'. No people required - just images from the workplace. The pictures get loaded onto laptops and groups select the ones most representative of their culture for the group to explore.

Discussion reveals the organization culture at its best and its most confounding. Conversation probes deeply into the values of the organization that are espoused and in use. Behaviors, rules, principles and beliefs are made explicit and tested for validity. In a short period of time, participant perception of the culture has been exposed and norms and beliefs that are supporting and impeding progress are tested. This is a organizational culture photography in action. Culture change acceleration has started.

When deep personal change is required

Pictures say 1000 words. They represent a moment in time but can reveal deep truths. Imagine how pictures expose how the culture really operates. Here's what pictures might show in an organizational culture photography workshop:

• Boxes of various teas in a kitchette cupboard - "That's us! We're so diverse. Especially in our thinking."

• Conference room full of filing cabinets - "We talk about being collaborative but there is no energy or time for it".

• Two entrance doors side by side, one for managers and one for staff. "We have two classes of people here."

• A poster showing hand prints with signatures on it. "We appreciate and recognize contributions. Most of these people are gone but this has stayed up. We appreciative achievement and don't forget what has been accomplished."

What we see are artifacts and we can only make surface judgments. What groups see, when working with their own photographs, can provide deep insight about what guides behavior and reinforces even the most unproductive practices.

Rapidly tap into core values and structures underpinning behavior

By engaging core groups in the organization in cultural photography sessions, there is opportunity to raise questions about beliefs and norms and to engage groups in collaborative exploration of alternative ways of thinking. This is deep change work that changes organizational DNA. Organizational culture photography workshops are a leading-edge method for making this happen.

• Enhance the ability of the executives, core groups and change teams to perceive current reality

• Build collective passion for culture change

• Awaken the interest of the 'comfortable'

• Identify symbols of the change ahead (one business unit selected the empty conference room as the symbol of the difference from espousing innovation to being innovative) and those that lock in the past

• from espousing innovation to being innovative) and those that lock in the past

"You cannot buy a distinctive organizational culture and you cannot copy it from someone else. You must grow it." A.L. Wilkins