Cultural norms that prevent continual learning

"The recipe for workplace despair is having high expectations for performance in a system that erodes well-being and extracts the energy needed to "perform".

Zach Mercurio

Here a some ingrained organisational culture norms that are mostly invisible to leaders and prevent 'cultures of learning':

1. Worshipping individual performance (= individualising systemic problems)

2. "Performance" (really) equates to 'level of compliance and acceptance' (working with the system)

3. Hiring and organising for 'cultural fit' (reinforcement)

4. Absence of inquiry (status roles limit questions and challenge)

5. 'High potentials' ethos (special treatment for the special people)

6. Work and learning viewed as separate entities ('work' means 'delivery', 'learning' means 'training')

7. Processes organised to maintain separation between the 'thinkers' and the 'doers' (status roles).



I work as a thinking partner and advisor with mid sized, value oriented companies going through significant change. I help you to build new capability and mindsets through shifting your approach to organisational development.

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