Professional Documents
Culture Documents
CULTURE
IS THE
WAY
HOW LE ADER S AT E VER Y LE VEL
B U I L D A N O R G A N I Z AT I O N
FOR SPEED, IMPACT, AND EXCELLENCE
Copyright © 2023 by Matt Mayberry. All rights reserved.
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iii
iv Contents
NOTES 245
A BOUT THE AUTHO R 253
I NDEX 255
Author’s Note
Some incidents, events, and dialogues are drawn from my imagi-
nation and are not to be construed as verbatim, even though they
are all based on real people, results, businesses, conversations,
and events. Some places and companies have been changed, and
many of the names have been changed, along with some features
and characteristics, to preserve their anonymity.
vii
Figure List
Figure 4.1 The Separation Gap 63
Figure 5.1 The Five-Step Culture-Building Process77
Figure 6.1 What Great Cultural Purpose Statements
Provide100
Figure 9.1 Fanatical Framework for Culture
Sustainability152
Figure 10.1 A Leader’s Role in Building Culture 179
Figure 10.2 Transformational Leadership Framework 184
Figure 10.3 Five Key Elements to Leadership
Development194
ix
Acknowledgments
Writing a book is never a solo act, and this book was no excep-
tion. Finishing this book and completing the manuscript would
not have been possible without the special people in my life.
Thank you to my wonderful wife, Aubry, for being so pa-
tient with me.
Katie Kotchman, my agent, has always been one of my big-
gest supporters. Thank you for listening to my crazy ideas and
encouraging me.
I’d like to express my gratitude to Wiley, my publisher, for
not only believing in but also showing great excitement for this
book. Richard Narramore, my editor, was instrumental from the
beginning.
Thank you, Donna Peerce, for your contribution, productive
discussions, and executing every minor detail.
This book wouldn’t have been possible without the help of all
of the business leaders who allowed me to interview them and
took time out of their busy schedules to help with the production
of this book. I greatly benefited from the information you shared
with me as well as your leadership.
Each and every client, as well as the organizations and lead-
ers who entrust me with your most valuable asset, your people,
means the world to me. My work certainly doesn’t feel like work.
I am so fortunate for each and every opportunity, relationship
formed, and your partnership.
xi
CHAPTER 1
Is Culture Powerful?
Ask a Football Coach
1
F
ootball was the first “team” that taught me about culture.
As a football player at Indiana University, I first dis-
covered the extraordinary power and capacity of culture.
Terry Hoeppner, my head coach at the time, was one of the most
remarkable individuals I have ever had the privilege of knowing.
Coach Hep, as we called him, was a special, inspiring, and pas-
sionate man whom I wrote extensively about in my first book,
Winning Plays.
We were the laughingstock of the Big Ten Conference for foot-
ball when Coach Hep first arrived at Indiana. We were known
more for throwing one of the best tailgate parties in the confer-
ence than for providing an electrifying atmosphere to watch Big
Ten college football.
The energy and enthusiasm for the future of Indiana Foot-
ball began to shift after Coach Hep arrived and took charge of
our team. Coach Hep had an almost magical aura about him,
and when people were with him, they felt an openness, kind-
ness, and friendliness. He was convinced that our football pro-
gram had the potential to be great one day, and he acted accord-
ingly. He continually talked to us about changing the culture of
Indiana Football and setting new expectations for us as players.
Everything he did, whether it was sharing his favorite poems or
quotes before every team meeting, constantly breaking down the
program’s future vision, or encouraging and coaching us up at
every opportunity, was geared toward changing the program’s
old beliefs.
Coach Hep died from a lingering illness during my sopho-
more year. When he passed away, I don’t think there was a dry
eye in Indiana because he was truly one of the greats. Everyone
was left with fond, heartfelt memories and an indelible impres-
sion of him.
Our football team dedicated the upcoming season in his hon-
or. We carried his passion, vision, and spirit with us on the field
and ended up going to a Bowl game that year. This was our first
Bowl game appearance in fourteen years. Yes, you read that cor-
rectly. Fourteen years! We didn’t have an extreme upgrade in tal-
ent. So, it wasn’t the talent on the roster that helped us break the
3
4 C H A PT E R 1 Is Culture Powerful? Ask a Football Coach