An extensive research study was undertaken to determine the relationships between leadership, culture, and organizational outcomes. Two consecutive national leadership surveys yielded data from 570 participants. The results found that performance outcomes were affected by both organizational culture and team leadership. Two additional findings were interesting. First, leadership had a larger impact on performance outcomes, and second, leadership significantly influenced culture which in turn influenced outcomes. Based on their findings, the researchers concluded that individual leaders who want to both increase performance and nurture a culture that produced greater outcomes should
- Go out of their way for the good of the organization rather than for self-interest or at the expense of colleagues.
- Continuously question the values, beliefs, and underlying assumptions of their organization.
- Deliver on their commitments.
- Discuss future trends, turbulence, and uncertainty with team members.
By implementing these practices, these individuals will be displaying high-performance leadership and simultaneously contributing to positive work culture.
Reference
Parry, K. W., & Proctor-Thomson, S. B. (2002). Leadership, culture, and performance: The case of the New Zealand public sector. Journal of Change Management, 3(4), 376-399.
