Leaders must recognise that physical strength and appearance don’t necessarily translate to real-world abilities. Similarly, the skills and behaviours we train our staff for can significantly impact our company culture.
Just as someone who trains their body for aesthetics may not have practical strength, individuals who train for specific scenarios (such as action scenes in movies) may not be equipped to handle real-life situations. We are limited by our training, so it’s crucial to understand what we are preparing ourselves and our teams for. We must be able to answer – What are we training for?
Unfortunately, many companies unknowingly train their staff to follow processes blindly, always defer to authority, avoid responsibility, and engage in toxic behaviours like blaming and backstabbing. As leaders, we must be mindful of the skills and behaviours we encourage in our teams, as they can significantly impact our company culture.