Scholars like Edgar Schein argue that culture is mostly invisible to insiders. After working across many organisations, I’ve seen the truth in that. I’ve worked with leaders and executive teams who can no longer recognise the culture they operate in. Culture surveys help, but many organisations don’t always know what to do with the results. When a new leader arrives, they briefly occupy a rare position.

To break through complex problems or underwhelming performance, leaders must question and challenge old conventions and be willing to let them go. That is never easy, especially when we are deeply invested in the very conventions that hold us back. Alan Kohler, in a recent ABC article (below) on fusion power and the Australia/USA alliance, argues that AUKUS, with its focus on submarines, looks like “old generals fighting the last war.”

This is a call out to encourage your support for local voluntary organisations! These groups work hard to deliver important social programs but often struggle with limited funding, lack of essential skills, and resource constraints. They have passion, purpose and commitment in spades but this may not be enough.