When I took over as the CEO of Nevada Donor Network (NDN), the organization was facing a low point in terms of culture and performance. Over the past decade, we have worked tirelessly to rebuild the organization and establish a strong and healthy culture. Our success speaks to the importance of prioritizing culture in every organization.
The ability to successfully execute an organization’s purpose depends heavily on its culture. As a leader, it is up to you to shape and mold the culture of your organization in a way that aligns with its mission. At NDN, we realized that our toxic culture was hindering our ability to fulfill our purpose of providing transplantable organs to patients in need. This realization led us to make significant changes to our culture in order to better serve our mission.
Your organization’s culture becomes its reputation over time. Stakeholders, both internal and external, will pick up on the culture of your organization and it will influence how they perceive and interact with your business. At NDN, we publicly committed to rebuilding our culture from the ground up and welcomed feedback from our stakeholders. This level of transparency helped us to continuously improve and set clear expectations for our organization moving forward.
Creating a supportive company culture is not just about fixing what is broken. It is about setting big, inspiring goals that motivate your team to work towards a common vision. While addressing areas of improvement is important, the ultimate goal should be to create a culture that enables everyone to be more effective in accomplishing the mission of the organization.
Establishing a strong and healthy culture requires ongoing investment and maintenance. It can take years to understand what your organization needs culturally, create a plan to establish that culture, and then execute it successfully. It is important to continuously track and recalibrate your culture to ensure it remains in alignment with the organization’s purpose.
In conclusion, culture is the lifeblood of any organization. Neglecting culture can lead to chaos, while intentionally shaping and maintaining a strong culture can have a direct impact on the success of the business. Take the time to assess your organization’s culture and make a plan to ensure it remains healthy and aligned with your mission. Cultivating a positive and transparent culture will not only improve relationships with stakeholders but also drive the success of your organization.
