Josh's Weekly Insights - March 25, 2026

“Culture is not an initiative. Culture is the enabler of all initiatives.”

-Larry Senn

We were discussing culture during class the other day and it was important for the group to understand that everyone plays a role in culture building. The leader may set the direction for the culture of the group, but until everyone is living out the values that culture doesn’t exist.

This was also an opportunity to show them that “leader” does not mean the person with the biggest title. Often times on a team, there is someone with a lot of influence that doesn’t have the highest rank. This person is extremely important to the culture building of the team. They can help shape the direction of the culture because everyone on the team looks to them as an example. Often, this person is very experienced and knowledgeable so the create followers on the team naturally.

I give one important piece of advice to new leaders trying to build a desired culture on their team. Find the person with the most influence already established and work closely with that person. When you do that, you can harness the influence that leader has to get more buy-in on your current initiatives. Then, over time, you can build trust with your team until your own leadership role is established. Utilizing this strategy can save young leaders a lot of pain in the start of their journey where they often struggle to get commitments from their team and will help them establish a strong culture of trust and respect with their group.

Now get out there and crush your week!