Organizational Culture

Our approach to organizational culture is simple: it emphasizes proactive problem-solving, transparent communication, and accountability. It involves anticipating and addressing issues before they escalate, maintaining honesty and integrity in all interactions, and focusing on finding solutions rather than making excuses.

  • "Guys, here are the values. We’ve got to shift our thinking to be a proactive problem solving organization. So, we’ve had too many situations where we just kick things down the road and the lack of ability or the unwillingness to engage in important crucial conversations.

    So here’s the philosophy. We at the company have to be proactive in anticipating problems, coming up with solutions, and managing the projects so that there are no surprises and that we deliver on what we promised with no surprises. That is the philosophy. Because that’s our philosophy, then when the wheels come off we have to embrace it with honesty and integrity and problem solving skills. We don’t have to have the solution, but we can’t surprise each other or our customers at the 11th hour. That’s not a part of our culture any more."

  • That is an excerpt is taken from one of the Academy's Authentic Moments, capturing this CEO's real words and insights from a team meeting in 2023. That year, that CEO created a brand new revenue stream for the company that contributed 15% of total income. It underscores a fundamental principle of the approach to organizational culture at The Academy: emphasizes a proactive problem-solving mindset. It involves shifting from reactive to proactive approaches in anticipating and addressing potential issues before they escalate. The leader needs to foster a solution-oriented mindset, focusing on developing and implementing solutions rather than deferring problems or avoiding difficult conversations. Transparency and integrity are crucial, especially when unforeseen problems arise, ensuring no last-minute surprises for team members or customers. The commitment to delivering on promises and managing projects effectively to consistently meet expectations is paramount. Collaborative problem-solving is encouraged, with open communication and teamwork being key to resolving issues together rather than operating in silos. This approach cultivates a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement, ensuring the organization remains resilient and trustworthy.
Order This Skills Kit

Our Organizational Culture Solutions

  • The Distinguished Professional Skills Kit

    Delivered to your door. If you are in your late career or preparing to capitalize on a big moment and want to brush up on your skills, this Skills Kit will help you quickly position yourself to directly contribute to the strategic success, operational efficiency, and overall leadership within an organization. The skills are complex, require years of experience to develop, and have a substantial impact on an organization's success, which is why they are not only highly respected skills but also among the highest paid in many industries.

    Key Skills

    1) Leverage Strategic Vision and Leadership Experience
    2) Set the Direction for Organizational Change Efforts
    3) Ensure Alignment With Broader Business Goals
    4) Mentor and Coach Others

    Designed by Harvard-trained PhDs, experts, and specialists, this kit offers a comprehensive approach to developing essential professional leadership skills.

    Get This Skills Kit 

  • Targeted Training on Leadership Development

    A targeted training program that includes a structured curriculum focused on developing proactive problem-solving skills, fostering a solution-oriented mindset, enhancing transparency and integrity, and promoting collaborative problem-solving:

    Module 1: Shifting to Proactive Thinking

    Module 2: Developing a Solution Oriented Mindset

    Module 3: Enhancing Transparency and Integrity

    Module 4: Commitment to Delivering on Promises

    Module 5: Continuous Improvement and Accountability

    Program Outcome

    By the end of this targeted training program, participants developed the skills necessary to anticipate and address issues proactively, engage in crucial conversations, maintain transparency and integrity, and collaborate effectively to solve problems. You will foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and trust within the organization.

    Contact Us 

What Our Customers Say

  • President, Public Architecture & Infrastructure

    "The Academy shows you how to work efficiently and quickly to make significant adjustments that bring your organization back into profitability while at the same time addressing complex staff issues."

  • Chief Information Officer, Healthcare Services

    "You will learn how to dive in fearlessly, take the lead and do a superb job collaborating with your team on changes to policies and your operating model and then successfully drive the communication and execution of the improvements."

  • Chief Executive Officer, Healthcare Systems

    "Amazing problem solving skills, the ability to assess complex issues and create solutions that can be implemented with superior results from these courses. You will learn unique skills that can be applied anywhere that will produce significant solutions."

Let's Talk About What Organizational Culture Looks Like For Your Organization

Get in touch with us about equipping your team at every level,
regardless of scale or size, to lead more effectively.

More About Organizational Culture

Get to a true solution

Organizational Culture Is About Moving Away From Crisis Management and Being Proactive.

Organizational culture at the Academy is about the importance of staying on top of projects, communicating openly about delays or issues, and having crucial conversations to avoid surprises. The culture values honesty and integrity, focusing on delivering what was promised without excuses. It encourages looking for options and solutions rather than falling back on defensive behavior or excuses. This approach ensures that both customers and employees are kept informed and that the company consistently meets its commitments with quality and attention.

Achieving Success

It's Proactive, Transparent, and Accountable.

Achieving organizational culture success at the Academy involves achieving success through several key strategies:

1. Proactive Problem-Solving: By moving away from crisis management and anticipating issues before they escalate, you can address challenges more effectively and maintain smooth operations.

2. Transparency and Honesty: Open communication about delays, issues, and potential obstacles builds trust with both customers and employees. When everyone is informed, there are fewer surprises, and stakeholders feel more secure and respected.

3. Crucial Conversations: Encouraging and having necessary but difficult conversations helps to resolve issues promptly and prevents misunderstandings. This practice strengthens relationships and improves problem-solving.

4. Focus on Solutions: Shifting from a mindset of making excuses to finding solutions promotes a more positive and constructive work environment. This approach encourages creativity and resilience.

Overall, this approach creates a strong, cohesive organizational culture where trust, respect, and excellence are prioritized, leading to sustained success and growth.