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6 communication principles leaders should live by

Peter Drucker, the renowned management consultant, famously said, "Culture eats strategy for breakfast." It suggests a fundamental truth: no matter how well-crafted a business strategy may be, it's the [culture](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/why-company-culture-matters-more-than-you-think) of an organisation that ultimately matters to its success.

Workplace culture encompasses more than just what we do at work; it's about the accepted norms of work, and how we _feel_ while doing our work. It impacts everything from employee engagement and productivity to overall job satisfaction and [retention](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/retentionmethods).

As businesses face new challenges, creating and maintaining a [positive workplace culture](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/positiveworkplaceculture) has become increasingly important. 

Here we look at aspects of cultural leadership and information on our upcoming Sydney conference addressing this.

Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast

One of the best opportunities for developing cultural leadership is [CultureCon™ Sydney 2024](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/events/australia-culturecon-2024-sydney-workplace-conference/overview). This workplace culture conference on October 22 will see leaders learning, sharing, and developing strategies for building strong, effective cultures in the digital age.

CultureCon™ offers an in-person opportunity with a concentrated focus on culture topics from leading experts. Whether you're new to leading people or looking for help with new or sticky workplace challenges, this full-day event will give you strategies across a wide range of subjects around developing a successful workplace culture in the modern business world.

Australia’s Workplace Culture Conference 

According to McKinsey, a healthy culture is the ultimate competitive advantage, leading to greater adaptability and higher shareholder returns. It makes work a more enjoyable place to be, and reduces absenteeism, presenteeism, resignations, and possibly other [signs of a toxic workplace](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/Toxicworkplaceculture). 

Despite this, a surprising 70% of leaders lack culture training, says Karl Treacher, founder of CultureCon™. This gap highlights the urgent need for cultural leadership development.

The Power of Culture

Acumen is defined as "the ability to make good judgements and take quick decisions." 

Cultural acumen is this, but around workplace culture. It involves a deep understanding of organisational dynamics, [employee experience](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/employeeexperience) and needs, and the impact of culture on business outcomes. 

Leaders with strong cultural acumen can:

*   Recognise cultural nuances within their organisation
*   Identify areas for improvement and growth
*   Anticipate how cultural shifts might affect performance and employee satisfaction

Developing this acumen requires continuous learning and exposure to diverse perspectives.

CultureCon™ Sydney 2024 will feature thought leaders and industry experts on ongoing workplace culture topics such as these.

Cultural Acumen: Understanding Needs

To be a pin-up for organisational culture, leaders need to develop specific skills:

*   **Communication**: Clearly articulating cultural values and expectations with better [communication](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/communication-skills-for-leadership)
*   **Empathy**: Understanding and addressing employee concerns and needs
*   **Adaptability**: Handling [change](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/future-of-work) and helping others do the same
*   **Inclusivity**: Fostering a diverse and psychologically safe environment
*   **Vision**: Setting and communicating a compelling cultural direction

CultureCon™ Sydney 2024 addresses these skills through its lineup of speakers, including human rights lawyer **Prabha Nandagopal** and impact space leader **Danny Olmagor** OAM.

They'll explain practical ways leaders can build [inclusive](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/inclusionandbelongingatwork) and [high-performing](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/high-performing-team-traits-to-make-your-best-team-ever) cultures.

Essential Skills for Cultural Leaders

Developing a strong organisational culture is an ongoing process. Here are some strategies cultural leaders can employ:

*   **Lead by example**: Embody the cultural values you wish to see in your organisation
*   **Encourage feedback**: Create channels for open communication and act on employee input
*   **Invest in training**: Provide opportunities for employees to develop cultural competencies
*   **Recognise and reward**: Acknowledge behaviours that align with desired cultural values
*   **Adapt to change**: As our [Emerging Leaders Program with Dr Jen Frahm and Lena Ross](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/events/a02RG000006jKwnYAE/overview) will also explain, leaders need to learn how to stay agile and responsive to shifts in the business environment

CultureCon™ Sydney 2024 offers workshops and panel discussions that investigate these strategies, providing practical takeaways for attendees.

Cultural Development Strategies

As we look to the future, cultural leadership must progress to address emerging challenges:

*   **Human + AI Integration**: Leaders need to shape cultures that effectively integrate [artificial intelligence into team dynamics](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/events/a02RG000006jKwnYAE/overview). **Professor Matt Kuperholz**, an AI scientist speaking at CultureCon™, will present fascinating information on this topic.
*   **Digital Transformation**: Building high-performing cultures in the digital era requires adapting to rapid technological changes
*   [**Psychological Safety**](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/whatispsychologicalsafety): Creating environments where employees feel safe to take risks and be their authentic selves is crucial for innovation and engagement

·        **Culture Governance**: CEOs and boards play a vital role in driving cultural change and implementing [effective governance practices](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/ceo-impact-on-culture-and-culture-governance)

[CultureCon™ Sydney](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/articles/ceo-impact-on-culture-and-culture-governance) 2024 addresses these future-focused topics, preparing leaders for tomorrow's challenges while providing strategies for today's needs. CultureCon™ is a collaboration between Growth Faculty and The Culture Institute.

The Future of Cultural Leadership

[Growth Faculty members](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/memberships/?campaign_id=701RG000006BNNhYAO&promo=BlogGF) benefit from a world-class [immersive live virtual learning program of events](https://thegrowthfaculty.ac-page.com/GF-Program-Download) - all included in their annual subscription. It’s an engaging and entertaining way to develop leaders.

Growth Faculty recently launched a good value [Enterprise plan](https://join.thegrowthfaculty.com/enterprise/) for **larger companies** to develop leadership skills across their whole organisation.

New events are being added regularly to this highly curated program. Keep an eye on the website Growthfaculty.com for fresh additions to the line-up.

There are separate multi-week live virtual programs for [emerging leaders](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/events/a02RG000006jKwnYAE/overview?sid=a0KRG000008sQyb2AE) and for [senior leaders](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/events/a02RG00000606y1YAA/overview?sid=a0KRG0000092LET2A2) offering a condensed leadership course in a time-effective way.

For **higher level leaders,** including CEOs, there is an in-person [Good to Great® Immersion Workshop with Jim Collins](https://thegrowthfaculty.com/events/a02RG000002EGYsYAO/overview/?campaign_id=701RG00000ALpCMYA1&promo=Blog&type=Affiliate) in Chicago, U.S., in October 2024. This is exclusively for executive teams and numbers are limited.

Photo by [Shridhar Gupta](https://unsplash.com/@shridhar?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/people-sitting-in-front-of-computer-monitors-dZxQn4VEv2M?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash)

Cultural Leadership & Culture Acumen at Work

How leaders impact employee satisfaction and organisational success

Keep informed
Stay Inspired

Cultural Leadership & Culture Acumen at Work

How leaders impact employee satisfaction and organisational success

Keep informedStay Inspired

Keep informed
Stay Inspired