How can young leaders influence culture?
As young leaders, we are being influenced by secular instant culture on a daily basis. I think it’s important that we understand how culture work and how we as young leaders can influence culture in a positive way.
If we want to understand cultural diversity then it’s important for us to know what is culture? How does it work, and how we can influence culture in a positive way in our different communities. You can also listen to this episode as a podcast here: https://soundcloud.com/young-career-coach/influencing-culture-young-leaders
What is culture?
The word ‘culture’ comes from the Latin word cultus, which means care, not leaving nature as it was or to till the ground. This is where we get the word Agriculture from. During the 17th Century the meaning changed to being educated or to expose human-beings to education. Simply, culture is the lens through which we see the world. (It includes our values, beliefs, habits, traditions, behaviors, symbols and language) Geert Hofstede, a widely known Dutch researcher of culture, has defined culture as "the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from another."
We are being programmed to think and act in a certain way, whether we like it or not. One of the leaders that I follow is a master when it comes to understanding culture. He warns us not to conform to any secular culture, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. He’s advising young leaders not to just follow any culture, but to be transformed by embracing positive values, behavior and traditions to influence secular culture in a good way.
How does culture work?
I came across this brilliant video of a guy starting a dance party at a festival. So this guy just starts to dance randomly in the park, all on his own, while hundreds of other young people just stares at him . . . thinking, this guy is crazy, he’s alone, dancing all on his own!
Everyone thought this guy is crazy! Then a second person from the crowd suddenly joins the dance. (He becomes the first supporter) And he shows the rest of the crowd that it’s a brilliant idea, let’s start to dance! He unknowingly invites others to join. A third person join, who influences the rest of the crowd. A whole group of people starts to join and a new norm is being established in the park. Culture is starting to form.
What can we learn from this video:
As young leaders, how do we make culture? 3 is the answer. We need at least 3 persons to start influencing or make culture.
1. Initiator: The person who started the dance party. The initiator is on a mission, he has a dream to change or influence culture and he looks crazy to everyone in the beginning. The initiator is not conforming to the norm or existing culture. Everybody resist him in the beginning.
2. Validator – He validates the vision or the dream of the initiator. The validator shows the rest of the group that it’s a brilliant idea and invites others. (He’s the first supporter of the initiator)
3. Peer impactor – He convince the crowd to join. The peer impactor influences the rest of the crowd and a new norm is being established and culture starts to form.
If you want to influence the culture around you, then you'll need the 3 roles mentioned above. We are better together. People want to be part of culture and not excluded. It’s our responsibility as young leaders to establish positive culture wherever we are. So let’s shape the culture around us.
I want to end with the following question:"As a young leader, are you conforming to secular culture or are you shaping positive culture?" You are called to be the change in this world by walking in your full potential.
Please visit our website at www.youngcareercoach.com for online training courses on career, culture and leadership for young leaders. This is a product of Pinpoint Coaching (Pty) Ltd.
Our mission is to help young people discover the gift of diversity and to empower leaders to walk in their full potential.
Our mission here at Pinpoint Coaching is to help young people discover the gift of diversity and to empower leaders to walk in their full potential.