In this episode of Culture Crush, host Dan Dowman welcomes Paula Brockwell, Founder of The Employee Experience Project. Together, they explore the intricate relationship between leadership dynamics and organisational culture. Paula shares her journey from the edges of burnout to building a methodology aimed at transforming employee experiences, emphasising the need for leaders to empower their teams rather than merely enforce control. 

They discuss the importance of psychological safety, the role of HR in cultural change, and practical steps leaders can take to foster an environment where everyone feels responsible for culture.

Culture Crush

🧡 Danny Wareham:

➡️ For your groundbreaking research on Constellation Leadership, shining a light on the crucial environmental cues and collective habits that shape effective leadership.

Key Takeaways

✅ Leaders must recognise their role in shaping culture and understand that their behavior influences employee engagement.

✅ The transition from control to empowerment requires clear communication and structured support for teams.

✅ A culture driver map can help leaders visualise the connection between their actions and organisational behaviour.

✅ Small, sustainable steps in culture change can yield significant long-term improvements.

✅ HR should be seen as enablers of culture rather than the sole owners, encouraging broader participation in cultural transformation.

Sound Bites

📢 “You don’t see IT giving you your laptop and then typing your emails for you; HR needs to provide the tools, but not do the work for you.”

📢 “Often you don't have the infrastructure, the support, and the capability that you need below you.”

📢 “Small sustainable steps that are concentrated on tangible outcomes will get you much more progress than doing big tick list things.”

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Culture Crush

00:30 Meet Paula Brockwell

02:45 The Journey to the Employee Experience Project

10:00 Understanding Leadership and Culture

15:20 Culture Crush: Danny Wareham

18:50 The Role of HR in Cultural Change

23:30 Leadership Challenges: From Control to Empowerment

30:15 Building a Culture Driver Map

35:00 Practical Steps for Sustainable Change

40:20 Final Thoughts: Small Steps, Big Impact

Links

🔗 Culture Drivers Map: https://social.anthem.ooo/QGWR