Culture versus Process OR Culture as Process.

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Why talk about culture? Can culture truly be defined? 

When working with teams, often they get caught up in the friendliness – or lack of friendliness – of the dialogue in decision-making. If there exists dysfunction, consultants are brought in to help a team work together in ways that reduce dissonance. 

Leave the dissonance alone. Dissonance – in life and in music – can often be a very good thing. 

Instead focus on the process of decision-making. 

For example: 

  • Set the agenda before the meeting 
  • Keep the ideas in front of the group using a flip chart or white board 
  • Focus on IDEAS. (Leave the details for the project manager and their team.)
  • Leaders should help clarify the debate 
  • Summarize 
  • Test for consensus 
  • The best idea wins out 

This is an example. 

The point I am making is this… it’s not culture OR process. Rather the culture is the process. 

When making decisions, focus on the process not the people. 

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Published by JC Hurtado-Prater | Leadership Professor + Consultant

JC Hurtado-Prater serves as Assistant Dean and Associate Professor of Leadership at the Fermanian School of Business at Point Loma Nazarene University where he oversees the graduate business and leadership programs. In addition, through his company, Bluestone Consulting, LLC, JC serves as a leadership consultant for executives and teams at global organizations such as Johnson + Johnson, Cisco, Visa, U.S. Navy, U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Harbor Freight, Park Hyatt and more. A veteran of the United States Army, JC earned a BA from UCLA, MBA through Saint Joseph’s College and is currently completing his doctorate in business administration through Indiana Wesleyan University. Passionate about community service in San Diego, JC serves on several local boards for organizations such as UC San Diego, South Bay Community Services, Thrivent Financial Southwest Region and Southwestern College Foundation. JC resides in the 4S Ranch area of San Diego, CA. In his free time, JC enjoys reading, working out and kayaking the California coast.

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