Introduction to Micro-Cultures

• Your thriving garden with standout crops represents micro-cultures in organizations.
• Definition and significance of micro-cultures as high-performing teams with unique energy and effectiveness.

Impact of Micro-Cultures

• Deloitte study: 71% of leaders see micro-cultures as crucial, but only 12% take action.
• Micro-cultures lead to 1.8x better employee outcomes and 1.6x higher likelihood of exceeding business goals.

How to Foster Micro-Cultures

• Focus on What Works: Tailor development to the specific tasks and needs of micro-teams.
• Tailor Talent Care: Align hiring, development, and reward systems with each micro-culture’s needs.
• Empower Leaders: Enable leaders to cultivate micro-cultures that align with broader organizational goals.
• Real-Time Measurement: Use tools and feedback mechanisms to monitor and support micro-cultures effectively.

Signals That Micro-Cultures Need Empowerment

• Cultural Drift: Leadership sees a misalignment in organizational culture.
• Grassroots Innovation: Teams develop their own effective work practices.
• Stifled Agility: Rigid processes hinder innovation.
• Talent Disconnect: A one-size-fits-all culture impedes attracting and retaining talent.
• Outdated Norms: Traditional work norms no longer meet evolving needs.

Conclusion

• Importance of “thinking small” to strengthen overall organizational culture.
• Benefits of fostering micro-cultures: enhanced collaboration, improved outcomes, and greater agility.
• Encouragement to embrace and nurture micro-cultures as a path to organizational success and future readiness.

Steven Morris, CEO of Matter Consulting is an ever-curious life-seeker, brand and culture building expert, advisor, author, and speaker.

With over 27 years of entrepreneurial experience, he has served as a trusted advisor to over 3,000 business leaders and evolved more than 250 brands and cultures, including Google, Habitat for Humanity, Samsung, and Disney.

His best-selling book, "The Beautiful Business," and his widely read Insights blog are a testament to his consulting expertise in creating unignorable, magnetic, and sustainable companies.

His diverse interests, including meditation, fine art painting, surfing, and beekeeping, infuse his work with creativity, soul, and a deep understanding of the human experience.

You can find more podcasts and join 30,000+ other brilliant and soulful readers of his weekly INSIGHTS blog at MatterCo.

In this episode, Steven Morris, Lori Schwanbeck, and Scott Shute discuss:

• The three components of self-compassion
• Mindfulness is observation without judgment
• Expanding your view of your circumstances
• Practicing empathy and kindness in your self-care

Key Takeaways:

• Practice self-compassion. The three components of self-compassion are these: mindfulness, common humanity, and kindness.
• Mindfulness is observing inner experiences without identification or judgment. Use the concept of “what else is true” to challenge negative thoughts. Ask your inner voice if it has the full story.
• When we go through something difficult, we tend to adopt a narrow view of ourselves and of the world. Remember the concept of “common humanity” when you go through hardships. Always remind yourself that you are not alone in your struggles.
• Once you have practiced mindfulness and have made yourself aware of common humanity, the next step is to bring in kindness to yourself. Ask yourself, “What do I need most right now?” and “How do I want to meet this moment?”

"Gratitude primes us. It's an attentional strategy, like noticing what it is that we're usually taking for granted. It's a self expanding emotion. " — Lori Schwanbeck

“It starts with us… so what's the light that we can cultivate from within and be the lighthouse for others?” — Scott Shute

Lori Schwanbeck and Scott Shute’s book recommendations:

Connect With Lori Schwanbeck:

Website: https://www.lorischwanbeck.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-schwanbeck-43187a7/

Scott Shute:

Website: https://www.scottshute.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottshute/

Get "The Beautiful Business" book by clicking on this link: https://the-beautiful-business.com/

Connect With Steven Morris

Website: https://matterco.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenmorris111/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matter_smorris/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/StevenMMorris

Steven Morris, CEO of Matter Consulting is an ever-curious life-seeker, brand and culture building expert, advisor, author, and speaker.

With over 27 years of entrepreneurial experience, he has served as a trusted advisor to over 3,000 business leaders and evolved more than 250 brands and cultures, including Google, Habitat for Humanity, Samsung, and Disney.

His best-selling book, "The Beautiful Business," and his widely read Insights blog are a testament to his consulting expertise in creating unignorable, magnetic, and sustainable companies.

His diverse interests, including meditation, fine art painting, surfing, and beekeeping, infuse his work with creativity, soul, and a deep understanding of the human experience.

You can find more podcasts and join 30,000+ other brilliant and soulful readers of his weekly INSIGHTS blog at MatterCo.

Show Notes:

1. Brand as Olympic Torch Metaphor: A brand embodies its core values and vision like the Olympic torch represents the Games.
2. Role of the Torchbearer: Initially lit by a leader or founder, the torch’s flame should be carried and shared by the entire organization.
3. Sustaining the Flame: Successful brands like Apple and Nike keep their flame vibrant through continuous innovation and adaptation.
4. Consequences of Neglect: A brand that fails to adapt risks becoming irrelevant, similar to how Blockbuster's flame dimmed.
5. Shared Responsibility: Every member of an organization plays a role in maintaining and passing on the brand’s flame.
6. Power of Connection: A strong brand creates a shared experience and connects with customers on a deeper level.
7. Rekindling the Flame: Regularly assess and renew the brand’s purpose, values, and promises to keep the flame burning bright.
8. Impact Beyond Origin: Like the Olympic torch carried globally, a well-managed brand’s influence can reach and inspire beyond its immediate scope.

Steven Morris, CEO of Matter Consulting is an ever-curious life-seeker, brand and culture building expert, advisor, author, and speaker.

With over 27 years of entrepreneurial experience, he has served as a trusted advisor to over 3,000 business leaders and evolved more than 250 brands and cultures, including Google, Habitat for Humanity, Samsung, and Disney.

His best-selling book, "The Beautiful Business," and his widely read Insights blog are a testament to his consulting expertise in creating unignorable, magnetic, and sustainable companies.

His diverse interests, including meditation, fine art painting, surfing, and beekeeping, infuse his work with creativity, soul, and a deep understanding of the human experience.

You can find more podcasts and join 30,000+ other brilliant and soulful readers of his weekly INSIGHTS blog at MatterCo.