Change the Culture, Change the Game

About the Authors

Roger Connors and Tom Smith are renowned experts in the field of organizational culture and accountability. They co-founded Partners In Leadership, Inc., a global leader in Accountability Training Services. With decades of experience, they have authored several bestselling books, including "The Oz Principle" and "How Did That Happen?" Their work focuses on creating cultures of accountability within organizations to drive success and achieve desired results.

Main Idea

"Change the Culture, Change the Game" by Roger Connors and Tom Smith explores the profound impact that organizational culture has on results. The authors present the Results Pyramid model, a framework designed to help leaders foster a culture of accountability. By aligning experiences, beliefs, actions, and results, organizations can achieve game-changing outcomes. The book emphasizes that culture change is not merely about shifting behaviors but also about transforming the underlying beliefs that drive those behaviors.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Implement the Results Pyramid to Change the Culture
3. Defining the Results That Guide the Change
4. Taking Action That Produces Results
5. Identifying the Beliefs That Generate the Right Actions
6. Providing Experiences That Instill the Right Beliefs
7. Integrate the C2 Best Practices to Accelerate the Culture Change
8. Applying the Three Culture Management Tools
9. Mastering the Three Culture Change Leadership Skills
10. Integrating the Culture Change
11. Enrolling the Entire Organization in the Change

Introduction

The book begins with a compelling argument about the importance of creating a Culture of Accountability within organizations. According to Connors and Smith, without accountability, efforts to implement change often fail. They argue that accountability is the cornerstone of transparency, trust, and effective communication, which are all crucial for successful organizational transformation. As they put it, "Accountability, done the right way, produces greater transparency and openness, enhanced teamwork and trust, effective communication and dialogue, thorough execution and follow-through, sharper clarity, and a tighter focus on results" (Connors & Smith).

Implement the Results Pyramid to Change the Culture

The Results Pyramid is a central concept in the book, outlining the relationship between experiences, beliefs, actions, and results. This model is used to illustrate how culture impacts outcomes and how leaders can manage culture to achieve desired results. The pyramid consists of three layers:

• Experiences: These are the foundational events and interactions that shape employees' perceptions and beliefs.
• Beliefs: Formed from experiences, beliefs drive how individuals interpret situations and choose actions.
• Actions: The behaviors exhibited by individuals, which directly lead to results.

Connors and Smith emphasize that leaders must actively manage each level of the pyramid to foster a Culture of Accountability. They introduce the concept of "Above the Line" and "Below the Line" behaviors, where Above the Line represents accountability and ownership, and Below the Line denotes blame and victimization. The Steps to Accountability, comprising See It, Own It, Solve It, and Do It, are crucial for cultivating Above the Line thinking and actions.