009-Your Role in Culture: Five Ways to Make an Impact
Beyond The Class: From Knowledge To Action
Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (traffic.libsyn.com) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
Culture isn't a department. It's a daily practice.
In this episode of Beyond the Class, Misty Janks, CEO of the Chapman Foundation, returns to tackle a common misconception: that organizational culture belongs only to HR or leadership. Misty reminds us that culture is a lived experience shaped by every interaction—every email, meeting, and hallway conversation.
She shares five actionable steps that anyone can take to make culture everyone's responsibility:
- Lead by example—model trust, respect, and accountability.
- Foster meaningful connections—because culture thrives on relationships, not just processes.
- Communicate with transparency and trust—and learn the four elements that make trust stick.
- Take ownership of problems and solutions—move from commentary to contribution.
- Recognize and reinforce positive behaviors—because people repeat what is appreciated.
From connection questions to stay interviews, Misty shows how intentional actions—big and small—create a workplace where trust grows, and people feel they matter.
LEVEL UP OPPORTUNITY: Pick one of these five steps and put it into action this week. Write it on a sticky note, set a reminder, and make it happen. Ownership starts with you.
Creating a culture of accountability and trust is a cornerstone of our Caring Workplaces program and our foundational class, Our Community Transforms. Visit the link below to learn more.
Note: You must be an alumnus of Our Community Listens to register for Our Community Transforms.
RELATED RESOURCES:
- Beyond The Class - 006-Rebuilding Trust When You've Messed Up
- Beyond The Class - 005-How To Build An Ownership Mindset
- Our Community Transforms - Learn More
BLOG: Organizational Culture: Everyone's Responsibility
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Everyday actions, not just policies, shape culture.
- Everyone—not just HR or leadership—owns culture.
- Five steps: Lead by example, build connections, communicate with trust, take ownership, and recognize positive behaviors.
- Trust grows through competence, caring, commitment, and consistency.
- Appreciation drives repetition—recognize what's working.
- Small actions compound into cultural norms.