In a recent study of Kenyan hospitals, only 1 in 4 nurses reported being satisfied with their work.
Even more alarming, organizational culture explained over 40% of what determined their job satisfaction.
Let that sink in.
Not salary.
Not workload.
Not even patient numbers.
Culture.
Culture — the invisible current that either carries people forward or quietly drowns them.
Harvard’s Executive Education team puts it plainly:
“Change in healthcare fails when culture isn’t aligned — and alignment must start at the top.”
(hsph.harvard.edu)
And yet, too often, senior leadership delegates culture to HR — as though values, trust, and accountability can be outsourced.
Here’s the reality:
When leadership doesn’t own culture,
- People stop believing the mission.
- Systems decay behind performance dashboards.
- Morale dies quietly — long before results collapse.
Culture Ownership Starts Here:
- Responsibility can’t be delegated. Culture starts in the boardroom.
- Actions > speeches. Accountability must reach the top.
- Align systems, not slogans. Real culture is built into how people are rewarded, hired, and heard.
- Lead visibly. Authenticity builds safety, not policies.
- Measure what matters. Because what you don’t measure, you can’t lead.
The Question Every Leader Should Ask:
When was the last time your executive team reviewed how their own behaviors — not HR initiatives — shape the culture of your organization?
Imagine if every senior meeting had this on the agenda:
“Culture Alignment Review” — Are we living what we lead?
Culture isn’t a communication plan. It’s a leadership lifestyle. Own it — or it will own your organization.
When top leadership doesn’t own culture, everything else falters.
What’s one sign you’ve seen that tells you top leadership truly owns the culture where you work?
Leadership Coach & Trainer | Culture Strategist | Growth Facilitator | Thought Leader | Founder @ILeadGrowth | Certified Facilitator Beyond Success Kenya | Motivational Speaker | Author of Broke No More & other transformative works | Mentor to Schools, Universities & Corporate Teams | Personal Growth & Potential Ignition Coach
