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Your Culture Is a Show, Whether You Script It or Not
“You can either write the story or become an actor in someone else’s.”
That’s what culture strategist Mike Ganino said during our recent conversation on The Enlightened Executive. And it’s a truth more leaders need to hear.
Mike’s background in hospitality, theater, and executive coaching brings a fresh perspective to a topic that often feels vague or overused. His message?
Culture is not what’s printed on your office wall. It’s what your team performs every day.
And as a leader, you are always modeling that performance. Whether you mean to or not.
Why This Matters for Leaders
Culture is shaped through observation, not just instruction. People don’t follow the values on the website. They follow you.
Which means your tone, energy, consistency, and decisions all become cues that teach your team what is truly expected.
Leadership presence is not about charisma. It’s about alignment.
Do your actions match your stated values?
Do your team members know what “great” looks like by watching you in action?
If not, someone else is writing the script for your culture. Probably without your input.
Storytelling is Your Secret Weapon
Mike shared that storytelling is the most underutilized leadership skill when it comes to building culture. And the neuroscience backs it up.
Our brains are wired to absorb meaning through story.
When leaders use narrative intentionally, highlighting real team wins, framing decisions in context, or naming what matters, culture sticks.
But when you leave the story unsaid, people create their own. Often based on fear or assumption.
The question isn’t whether your team is telling a story. It’s whether you’re guiding the right one.
Four Leadership Moves to Shape Culture Now
Here’s how to start shaping your culture on purpose, not by accident:
1. Lead with Awareness
After every meeting or interaction, ask yourself:
“What emotional tone did I leave behind?”
Presence is a performance your team learns from.
2. Make the Next Episode Clear
If your culture were a Netflix show, does your team know what’s coming next?
Create clarity around what matters now and where the team is headed.
3. Name the Pattern
Culture is a series of repeated behaviors.
Where are you seeing healthy repetition, and where are the scripts misaligned?
Speak it out loud so your team knows what to keep and what to change.
4. Rehearse What Great Looks Like
Instead of just setting expectations, practice them.
Run through high-stakes moments—presentations, pitches, conflict—with your team so they know how to deliver.
Final Takeaway
You don’t have to be a natural performer to lead culture. You just need to be intentional.
Your team is always watching. They’re learning how to “do” your company by watching how you lead.
So the real question is: What story are you telling through your actions, and is it the one you want repeated?
For more insights on leading culture through presence and self-awareness, subscribe to The Enlightened Executive or explore the Enneagram Applied program to uncover your leadership patterns.