The Magnificent ExitSample

Create Culture and Strong Cohorts

The same Titus we read about yesterday was tasked by Paul with creating Kingdom culture amongst new converts on the island of Crete, and part of that culture was establishing strong mentorship relationships between older and younger members of the community.

We’ve already noted that, as new leaders in an organization, we shouldn’t try to change foundations, vision, or values. Culture is the result of these at play in any organization. Being creative with culture while keeping yourself aligned with true North is an exciting way to bring in your own leadership style. Do things differently, allow your team to express themselves in unique ways, and have fun! An enjoyable culture always makes a leader’s work easier: problems get sorted out quicker or simply disappear before they surface. Creativity is one of the top leadership traits sought out by Fortune 500 CEOs in new management recruits. It’s the gold dust of leadership. As a new leader, you have carte blanche in this area – as long as you’re careful to remain true to the values already established.

And then, as you find your rhythm and become more confident in creating culture, you’ll want to nest yourself in a mature support structure. Many leaders who handoff won’t be able to give their successors enough time and support. Either they’ll make themselves scarce because they want to give you space, or they’ll simply leave and turn their attention elsewhere. It’s vital for you to intentionally build yourself into a mature cohort. There are leaders, mentors, prayer warriors, and the like around you whom you haven’t identified. Find them. Reach out through your network and take senior people out for coffee. If you like them, ask if you might tap into their wisdom from time to time. If you’re going to survive, you’ll need three to five people like this. You may have them in your own organization, but you’ll soon realize that you also need them externally. Many times, you’ll want to offload a burden to a wise person who isn’t intricately involved in the situation and doesn’t need to know the details. They’ll prove to be a tremendous help to you in your new role.