How Leaders Shape Growth Cultures (One Small Habit at a Time)

If you ask most leaders what they want, the answer is simple: better culture, clearer alignment, stronger performance.

But ask what they’re doing to get there… and the answers get vague.

It was a pleasure to host our recent “From Fuzzy to Fuel” webinar, where participants shared the same sentiment, no matter their role or industry:

Culture matters deeply — yet it often feels too big, too complex, or too fuzzy to get started.

But as our two guest Chief People Officers reminded us:

And that’s the heart of this conversation:

Start small. And it starts with you.

Why Culture Feels Hard (and What Leaders Get Wrong)

On the webinar, participants described cultures that felt “competitive,” “uncertain,” “curious,” and — most often — “fuzzy.” It’s no surprise: 75% of leaders say improving culture is a top priority, yet only 51% of employees say anything actually changes.

Why?

Because most organisations fall into what an article in MIT Sloan Management labelled the Doom Loop: more pressure → more control → less trust → lower performance.

Jonny shared how he sees this risk emerge, while integrating five companies:

“When pressure rises, people default to control. But you can’t micromanage your way to performance. Clarity and trust beat control every time.”

And Sarah sees the same pattern in every interim CPO role:

“Leaders often think culture requires a huge programme. It doesn’t. Start with one small experiment that builds momentum — and prove it works.”

How Growth Cultures Really Work

Despite the complexity, decades of psychology show at the core humans need three things to thrive:

1. Autonomy – choice and trust

2. Meaning – purpose and social connection

3. Growth – learning and progress

These needs sit at the heart of our Growth Culture model — five elements which together create then conditions for human growth: Workplace, Accountability, Community, Empowerment, and Growth.

Having examined his organisational culture through this lens, Jonny emphasised one challenge leaders underestimate:

“We now have five generations working together. The needs are different — but human connection is the silver bullet. Connection fuels everything else.”

Sarah added that small rituals can unlock that connection:

“One company I worked with held a monthly ‘learning gathering’. No hierarchy. No slides. Just shared learning. It shifted the whole feel of the culture.”

The Small Habits That Shift Culture

Culture doesn’t change through values posters.

It changes through habits — small, intentional and repeated behaviours people experience every day.

Examples from our Growth Culture Habit Wall shared on the webinar include:

• No-meeting Wednesdays to rebuild focus and autonomy

• Coaching-first conversations like Canva to build capability

• ‘Banana cards’ at IKEA to normalise experimentation

• End-of-meeting feedback at BHP to strengthen accountability

• Team “unplugged hours” for wellbeing and deep work

Sarah’s mantra:

“Just start. One quick win. One small experiment. If it doesn’t work, adjust. If it does, amplify.”

And Jonny’s reminder:

“If you want people to behave differently, model the behaviour first. Leaders go first — always.”

Where Leaders Should Begin

If culture feels fuzzy, try this simple first step tomorrow:

Run a 10-minute team habit review.

Ask three questions:

1️⃣ What habits help us perform and grow?

2️⃣ What habits are holding us back?

3️⃣ What one habit will we try for the next two weeks?

➡️ And go deeper - get quick, objective insight on your culture against the 5 Elements by access your Growth Culture Scorecard.

Small steps build momentum. Momentum builds culture.

You don’t need a grand plan to shape culture.

You don’t need everyone to be ready.

You don’t need the perfect moment.

You need one small step — led by you.

Because:

“Nothing changes until someone goes first.”

And when leaders choose to go first — with small, human habits — culture becomes not fuzzy… but fuel.

Watch back the fuel webinar here, when you join the Make It Human Club.

And check out our live learning options if you're ready to build the skills and access the tools to help you turn culture into your growth engine. 🚀