IS YOUR CULTURE AN ASSET OR AN ANCHOR?
Let’s be honest. In business, we obsess over strategy, metrics, and market share. It’s what we’re taught to do. But what if I told you the single greatest predictor of your success isn’t your business plan? It’s your Culture.
LET'S GET STARTED...
A CAPTAIN'S PRIMER:
Why Your Culture is Everything
After years of leading teams both on land and at sea, I've found a constructive way to understand an organization's culture is to think of it as a ship on a great voyage. Just as a ship is more than wood and canvas, a company is more than its products and balance sheets. A ship’s true power comes from the unified goals and synchronized spirit of its crew. In the same way, a company’s true power comes from its Culture.
It's this spirit that transforms a mere business into a living entity with a purpose, ensuring every action is synchronized toward a common goal and creating a resilient vessel that feels alive and powerful.
A toxic culture? It’s a disease within the crew - whether on land or at sea. It breeds mistrust and works against the ship's purpose, turning the vessel back into a lifeless collection of planks and canvas, adrift and vulnerable. Because in business, as in sailing, a storm is not a matter of if, but when. To truly be prepared to navigate any storm you find on the horizon, you must understand the condition of both your crew and your vessel.
So, climb aboard. Let's walk the deck together, from stem to stern, and find out just how seaworthy this ship really is.
MISSION
THE DAILY VOYAGE
With the destination set, the crew must then embark on their Mission.
This is the voyage—the relentless work of trimming the sails, checking the charts, and ensuring every oar in the water pulls in the same direction.
The Mission provides focus and clarity, answering the crew's daily question: "What must we do today to move closer to our destination?"
Without a clear Mission, a ship is just a floating vessel; with one, it becomes a powerful force of purpose.
“A ship can look strong in a calm harbor, but its true seaworthiness is only revealed in a storm.”
HUMAN
ELEMENT
THE CREW
Finally, a ship is nothing without its Human Element.
An explorer setting out for the arctic needs a different crew than a merchant sailing the calm Mediterranean. You can't just hire warm bodies to row the oars; you need the right people with the right character to endure the specific challenges of your voyage.
The Human Element is about defining and finding the specific crew that belongs on your ship, answering the critical question:, "Who belongs on this journey?"
THE FOUR CORNERSTONES OF CULTURE™
These are the Four Cornerstones of Culture™, the framework this assessment is built upon.
01
Vision (The North Star)
Your compelling destination that inspires the journey.
02
Mission (The Daily Voyage)
The daily work and focus required to sail in that direction.
03
Values (The Captain's Code)
The non-negotiable code of conduct for everyone on board.
04
Human Element (The Crew)
The right people who belong on your ship for this specific voyage.
THE CULTURE HEALTH & TOXICITY ASSESSMENT
A ship can look strong and steady in a calm harbor, but its true seaworthiness is only revealed in a storm. It’s the same with your company's culture.
Let's be clear: this assessment is not a test with a "score," but a diagnostic tool—a sounding of your organization's hull. Its purpose is to help you identify the hidden cracks, slow leaks, and deeper structural issues before you find yourself in rough seas.
So, let’s get to it. Answer each question with an honest, gut-level reflection. Where does your organization truly stand?
Preparing for Your Voyage: How to Use This Tool

Be Honest, Not Aspirational. This is the hardest part. You have to rate your company as it is today, not as you wish it were. An accurate chart is essential for navigation.

Involve Your Leadership Team. The most valuable insights emerge when your entire leadership team completes this assessment independently and then compares their charts. Where do perceptions align? More importantly, where do they differ?

Focus on Patterns, Not Scores. The final tally is less important than the patterns you uncover. Are all your 'leaks' in one specific Cornerstone? That's your starting point.
THE RATING SCALE
HOW SEAWORTHY IS YOUR SHIP?
For each statement, choose the rating that best describes your current reality.
05 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Shipshape & Sailing
An area of strength. We are fully aligned and moving with purpose.
04 ★ ★ ★ ★
Seaworthy but Leaking
Generally solid, but with noticeable inconsistencies and problems that need patching.
03 ★ ★ ★
Adrift & Taking on Water
A significant problem. We lack clear direction AND our integrity in this area is compromised.
02 ★ ★
In a Storm & Lost Compass Direction
A state of high alert. External pressures and a lack of internal direction are creating a dangerous and volatile situation.
01 ★
Sinking / Mutiny
A state of active crisis. Total failure in this area is imminent or already happening.
Interpreting Your Results and Charting Your Course Forward
This isn't about a final score. It’s about understanding the real condition of your ship. Your ratings point to a clear heading for what you must do next.
“This work is not a one-time fix; it is the constant, vital work of leadership. A captain does not simply set a course and then go to sleep.”
Mostly 4's
Seaworthy but Leaking
So, your ship's hull is sound, but you've got leaks. While your crew's still got the spirit, these inconsistencies? They're frustrating, and they're slowing your progress, preventing the vessel from reaching its full potential as a living entity. The biggest risk is losing your best people, who get tired of bailing water.
What to do next:

Prioritize Your Repairs: Identify the 2-3 questions with the lowest scores. This is your immediate action list.

Close the "Say/Do" Gap: Your primary focus must be on consistency. Ensure the values you praise in meetings are the same ones you reward in practice.

Address the "Brilliant Jerk": If you have a high-performer who is poisoning the well, they are likely your biggest leak. The crew is watching.
These leaks are manageable, but they won't fix themselves. Let's create a clear action plan to patch the holes and strengthen your hull for the next voyage.
Mostly 2's
In a Storm & Lost Compass Direction
This is a state of high alert. The crew's spirit is fractured, and the vessel is reacting like a lifeless collection of planks, being tossed by the waves rather than navigating through them. A lack of internal direction is meeting external pressure, creating a dangerous and volatile situation.
What to do next:

Steady the Helm: Your crew is likely confused and exhausted. They need calm, visible, and decisive leadership. Over-communicate with clarity and confidence.

Simplify the Mission: In a storm, complex maneuvers fail. Focus the entire crew on one or two immediate, critical objectives to get through the worst of it.

Find Your Bearings: The priority is to re-establish your "compass"—your Vision and core Values. All decisions must point in that direction to regain control.
Decisive leadership is required to find your North Star and calm the chaos. This is the time to bring in an experienced navigator to help you through the storm.
“Get the culture right, and massive success is possible. Get it wrong, and nothing less than the entire organization is at stake.”
Your Voyage Forward
Look, just completing this assessment is a huge first step. It takes real courage for a captain to look below the waterline and honestly evaluate the condition of their ship. You now have a clearer chart of your vessel's strengths and the leaks that require your immediate attention.
Remember, a resilient organization—a truly seaworthy ship—is always anchored by the Four Cornerstones of Culture™.
- Your Vision is your North Star.
- Your Mission is your daily heading
- Your Values are your Captain's Code
- Your Human Element is the crew that makes the entire voyage possible.
The health of each one determines your readiness for the journey ahead.
This work is not a one-time fix; it is the constant, vital work of leadership. A captain does not simply set a course and then go to sleep. They are always on the bridge, trimming the sails, watching the weather, and ensuring the crew is ready for what lies over the horizon.
Cultivating your culture is the most important voyage you will ever lead.
It doesn't matter if your ship is in pristine condition or in need of serious repair. The journey forward begins today. It begins with the choices you make as a leader. You have the map. You have the compass.