Stain or Paint? What’s Your Preference?
by Miki SaxonBosses are enamored with culture and rightly so.
However, for culture to work its wonders it must sink deeply into the organization in the same way that stain is absorbed by wood.
Cultural stain is the direct result of walking the talk and making sure that everybody else walks it, too.
It’s intentional action and it requires paying attention.
It must be applied carefully or every imperfection and flaw in the organization will be on display.
Stain is never the output of an underling; when ideas do bubble up from other parts of the organization they won’t take root without the support of the boss, whether publicly or not.
The problem is that many bosses find it faster to treat culture like paint.
Cultural paint is easier to apply and, like real paint, it can hide everything from minor blemishes to dry rot.
It’s paid lip-service, with effects that are grounded in convenience and often included only to make the employees feel good.
What paint-loving bosses forget is that the more coats of paint are applied the more likely is it to peel.
People aren’t stupid and will vote their displeasure with their feet.
Flickr image credit: maurice.heuts