According to a recent report in CEO World Magazine, over half of today’s CEOs say their workplace culture is toxic. That’s a 10% jump from the previous year.
Let that sink in.
Most organizations invest in talent acquisition.
And then they invest in strategic planning retreats.
But then they struggle – because CULTURE is what determines how well your TALENT implements that STRATEGY!
When culture is neglected, disengagement festers.
Trust breaks down.
Performance stalls.
If you’re leading a team, there’s nothing more dangerous than assuming your culture is healthy… when it’s really not.
That’s why I created The Wheel of Culture—inspired by Eric Partaker’s Wheel of Strategy.
This version breaks down culture into five essential components and gives you 20 specific questions to evaluate how well your team is functioning in each area.
Because culture isn’t about slogans or snacks.
Culture is the behaviors that are allowed and repeated in an organization.
As a team building facilitator and leadership speaker, I work with organizations to help them create Sticky Cultures that inspire better performance and retention.
And, if we haven’t had the chance to work together (or if you haven’t yet read my book, Rapid Teamwork, to learn about the 5 areas of a GREAT Culture that leaders need to focus on), read on…
You can take an important first step in identifying the heath of your current culture by answering the questions below:
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Goals
Because people want to contribute to something that matters.
- Do all team members know what we’re aiming for?
- Do they understand how their role contributes?
- Do they know who their work affects?
- What are we doing to make work feel meaningful?
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Relationships
Because performance improves when people feel safe and supported.
- Do our people feel known by their peers?
- Do they understand personality styles?
- Do we openly discuss mistakes or hide them?
- What are we doing to build empathy and connection?
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Expectations
Because clarity creates alignment and consistency.
- Have we defined our core values in behaviors?
- Are our values influencing how we hire and promote?
- Have we clarified our communication procedures?
- Do team meetings contribute to building our culture?
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Accountability
Because people develop when growth is expected and supported.
- Are we having regular development conversations?
- Do people have clear goals and support to reach them?
- When someone underperforms, do we coach or ignore?
- How often are leaders giving timely, actionable feedback?
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Thanks
Because what gets recognized gets repeated.
- Are we acknowledging both results and effort?
- Is appreciation happening daily, or just quarterly?
- Do we tailor recognition to each person?
- Do all people feel like they really matter here?
These questions are powerful exercise in reflection –
And maybe helpful as a conversation in your next team meeting!
Why?
According to Workhuman, 88% of job seekers say a healthy work culture is essential. That’s not a soft metric.
It could be YOUR competitive advantage.
Want better retention, trust, and team results?
Use this Culture Wheel to pinpoint your culture gaps—and fix them before they stall your success.
Culture Is a Daily Choice—Not a Set-and-Forget System
It’s tempting to treat culture like a one-time initiative or a quarterly survey. But the truth is, your culture is either improving or eroding—every single day.
The Wheel of Culture is a practical tool for team leaders who want to keep their culture aligned, intentional, and high-performing.
It helps you surface issues before they become people problems. And it gives you a structure to build habits that make your workplace not just productive—but magnetic.
If you want better retention, stronger collaboration, and higher trust, these five areas deserve your regular attention.
Ready to Strengthen Your Culture?
If this article helped you reflect on your team’s culture, let’s take the next step together.
As a team-building events facilitator and leadership speaker, I help organizations identify where their culture is stuck—and equip leaders with tools to build Sticky Cultures that drive performance, trust, and engagement.
If you’re planning a professional development day, leadership retreat, or off-site event, let’s make it a powerful turning point for your team.
And if you are looking to grow yourself as a leader – check out my newest project – What Effective Leaders Do. It is an entertaining parable with insights and tactics to accelerate your development as a manager!
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Sean Glaze is a sought-after leadership and workplace culture speaker, who gained valuable insights on
turning talent into teamwork as a successful basketball coach – and now he travels around the country to share those actionable lessons.
Sean’s engaging conference leadership keynotes and custom team building programs have helped clients like Cisco, John Deere, the CDC, and Emory University to increase collaboration, boost productivity, and build Sticky Cultures that inspire more profitable teamwork.
Sean’s books, Rapid Teamwork, What Effective Leaders DO, The 10 Commandments of Winning Teammates, and Staying Coachable are entertaining parables that accelerate the growth of leaders and teams!