Awareness Quote by Edgar Schein
“The only thing of real importance that leaders do is to create and manage culture. If you do not manage culture, it manages you, and you may not even be aware of the extent to which this is happening.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Organizational Culture and Leadership, 1985
Le must shape culture; neglect leads to being shaped by it.
In simple terms: Culture guides behavior; ignore it and it controls you.
Actively shape and monitor culture.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- company mergers
- team building
- change initiatives
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can leaders assess cultural health?
- What steps sustain cultural alignment?
Culture is complex and may resist change.