Culture change is regularly listed as a top priority by today’s leaders—yet it's often one of the hardest to act on. While 75% of leaders say improving culture is critical, only around half of employees see real change. Why? Because we get stuck. We see the problem, but the solution feels too big, too vague, or too risky.
So, how do we move from intent to action?
At Make It Human, we’ve found that the key lies in two things: pivot moments and habit shifts. These are small, everyday opportunities to steer your culture in a healthier, more intentional direction—without waiting for a full-scale transformation.
Pivot Moments: Culture is Built in the Small Stuff
Culture isn’t something you pause to fix. It evolves in real-time. Every day brings pivot moments—opportunities to make different choices that shape how people feel and work together.
Here are three practical examples:
Hiring a new leader
Don’t default to a like-for-like replacement. Ask: What does our culture need right now? Do we need someone more collaborative, more inclusive, more people-focused? Use hiring as a chance to nudge culture forward.
Team kick-offs or planning sessions
Instead of a standard meeting, rethink how you start new periods. Try open forums, feedback roundtables, or co-creation workshops to boost engagement and shared ownership.
Celebrating success
Recognition shapes culture. If only individual, high-profile wins are celebrated, team contributions and collaboration get sidelined. Celebrate behaviours, not just results. Ask: Who helped? How did we get there together?
Each of these moments is a fork in the road. You can do what you’ve always done—or use the moment to reinforce the culture you want to build.
Habit Shifts: Small Tweaks, Big Impact
Alongside pivot moments, culture is formed through the everyday habits of individuals and teams. These are often invisible, but incredibly powerful.
Review your meetings
Do your recurring meetings still serve a purpose—or are they just calendar clutter? Cancel, shorten, or reframe them to encourage more meaningful conversations.
Create focus time
Protecting time for deep work shows that productivity isn’t just about being busy. Block out no-meeting hours or focus mornings—individually or as a team.
Invest in relationships
Culture thrives on trust. Prioritise relationship-building—whether that’s a weekly coffee catch-up, team lunch, or simply taking five minutes to check in personally.
These aren’t grand gestures. They’re small shifts that build momentum. And the more visible they are—especially from leaders—the faster they ripple across teams.
Start Small, Stay Consistent
You don’t need a perfect plan. You need a starting point. Pick one pivot moment this week and do something differently. Tweak one team habit and see what changes.
Culture change doesn’t begin with a strategy deck—it begins with action.
Want more inspiration?
Download our free Pivot Moments Guide in the members area for practical tips to get going. And explore how to conduct a habit review using the linked articles below!
Thanks for sharing this - great guidance on where to get started