Culture and Guiding Principles

The client was navigating a period of uncertainty and change, having identified “Stabilize the Organization” as a top strategic priority. Leadership recognized that lasting stability would require more than operational fixes; it demanded a clear understanding of the organization’s culture as experienced by its people. Stack’d was engaged to uncover those lived experiences, surface key cultural insights, and guide the leadership team in co-creating a set of guiding principles and behaviours that would lay the foundation for a more unified and values-driven organization.

Stack'd designed a collaborative, human-centric process that prioritized listening and leadership alignment. We engaged staff across multiple levels to understand the realities of the current culture, what was working, what wasn't, and what needed to change. These insights informed the development of a straw model of guiding principles, grounded in the organization's lived experiences. Through working sessions, the leadership team refined these principles and identified the behaviours they wanted to encourage and discourage to shape a healthier, more consistent culture. To reinforce cultural ownership at the top and strengthen effective execution, Stack'd also supported the development of accountability agreements for the senior leadership team, ensuring that clear expectations and action matched the commitment to change.