Climate and Culture

Climate and Culture

Organizational climate: An atmosphere Tends to be temporary – shifting in emotions “in a bad mood”- could last for months or for

one hour Caused by internal or external factors Easier to change than change culture Ex: reduction in force = stressful

atmosphere until decisions are announced

Climate and Culture cont’d

Culture - An organizational personality “… the way we do things around here” The social footprint “… what’s really going on” Invisible force field Behaviors that seem strange to new employees Unwritten rules that permeate everything Manifested through traditions, rituals, norms,

myths, institutional memories, heroes, ceremonies, and symbols

Culture cont’d No universal definition Key factor in determining whether improvement is possible Typologies or characteristics of cultures:

Toxic Fragmented Contrived Balkanized Stuck Organic Collaborative Moving Wandering

(Deal & Peterson, 1999)

Reflection…

One thing I like best about my school’s culture is…

One thing I would like to change about my school’s culture is…

Enrichment Activity #2:Culture Change

As a new leader in your building, you inherit aclimate and culture of division and unrest with thecurrent system in place of teacher coaches,teacher mentors, and master teachers.

For a variety of reasons, your teachers view thesepositions as punitive in nature and not to betrusted. They perceive these positions as "easyjobs" and resent all the release time allotted tothose in the positions.

What would you do your first semester as building leader to begin to change the climate and eventually the culture to address this issue?

Make a list of actions you would take as the

leader. Limit to five and prioritize them.

Perception is reality. Even if a small percentage of faculty felt this way, should the school leader address it? Why or why not? How do you determine which hills to defend?

“Leading from the Parking Lot”

What is critical to improve student learning in my school?

Where and how can I exert influence in my school? Opportunities My role

What challenges might I face if I exerted influence to make changes?