Culture is a Mirror, Not a Mural

At one point in my career, I worked for an organization where the stated values—collaboration, innovation, community—were displayed on nearly every wall. However, the truth was that meetings were siloed, information was guarded, and burnout was normalized.

What I learned is this: culture isn’t what’s written on the wall—it’s what people whisper about in the hallway (or Slack channel).

In my current work, I help organizations map their actual culture before attempting to “fix” it. We gather stories, hold up mirrors, and trace the patterns behind the praise and the tension. Sometimes what emerges is hard to hear—but it’s always worth it.

Culture is messy, human, and sacred. It can’t be wallpapered over—it has to be named, nurtured, and activated every day.

Try this: Ask your team to finish the sentence: “The unspoken rule around here is…”—and listen for the truth beneath the answers.