The Death of the Culture Committee
Culture committees came from a sincere place. They gave people a voice. They helped leaders show that listening mattered. And for many organizations, they created connection that did not exist before.
But intention does not guarantee progress.
I spoke with a senior HR leader who launched a culture committee that looked strong. Cross-functional group. Real commitment. Clear purpose. Six months later, she shared that very little had changed. The effort was real. The impact was not. The committee generated ideas and energy, but it never held authority to influence behavior or decisions.
This is a pattern I see often. When culture becomes a volunteer effort, it can lose ownership. The organization stays busy, yet culture sits on the sidelines of real decision making.
In companies that are thriving today, culture is owned by leaders who drive clarity, reinforce standards, and model behavior every day. Employees surface truth. Leaders act on it. That is where accountability and results take root.
This week’s edition of This Week in Culture dives into this shift and why operationalizing culture has become the new requirement. Committees helped open the door. Leadership consistency carries the work forward.
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