6.2 - Doing Culture

In Chapter 4, p.94, the book describes how organizations "do culture -- or communicate culture -- simultaneously at several levels". When I reflect on the weekly meetings I attend I can't help but realize that there is culture within the unit being communicated to the entire bureau. The leader sits in the same location every time while being flanked by his managers on one side, the rest of sit as far away as possible in order to not be the focus. The banter begins as the leader beings to either poke fun at the support personnel, or criticize the attire of the new member of the unit. If the new member takes the ribbing in stride, he's passed the test and the leader can move on to business. If the new member is sensitive and reacts with sensitivity, the others in the room smell blood and proceed to join in. Call it a hazing of sorts, but in the first few minutes of the scheduled weekly meeting it does make for some humorous times.