greg bustin shape of your culture

The Shape of Your Culture

April 29th, 2014  | 

Published in Organization Health

Leaders often describe their organization as “agile,” “nimble,” “responsive.”

But if an organization’s culture is the sum of its behavior, few of your employees are lively and quick.

The World Health Organization estimates that more than one billion adults globally are overweight, at least 300 million of them clinically obese. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates more than 63% of Americans are overweight or obese.

Study after study shows that overweight workers cost themselves, their colleagues and their organizations plenty:

  • Lost work. Overweight and obese employees miss more days from work due to short-term absences than healthy employees, and these unfit employees also may work at less than full capacity.
  • Higher insurance costs. Employers pay higher life insurance premiums and spend more for workers’ compensation for overweight and obese employees.
  • Lower wages. Some studies indicate that obesity is associated with lower wages and lower household income.

It’s true that CEOs lose their jobs every year because they failed to hold their employees accountable to the performance expectations of boards and shareholders.

And it’s also true that obesity continues to be a sure sign that, for many, personal accountability is non-existent.

What shape is your culture in?

About the Author: Greg Bustin advises some of the world’s most admired companies and leaders, and he’s dedicated a career to working with CEOs and the leadership teams of hundreds of companies in a range of industries. He’s facilitated more than 200 strategic planning sessions, and he’s delivered more than 500 keynotes and workshops on five continents. His fifth leadership book—How Leaders Decide: A Timeless Guide to Making Tough Choices—examines 52 of history’s greatest triumphs and tragedies and will be published in 2019 by Simple Truths.

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