Earlier this month, we explored being the leader everyone wants to work for and how a leader can intentionally drive culture. To add a little more dimension to this conversation, I want to reiterate something most leaders don’t always pay attention to: the ripple effect of their actions on culture.
Here’s a point I’m sure you recognize: Every behavior you exhibit as a leader creates waves that extend far beyond your immediate team. For example, a dismissive comment in a meeting doesn’t just affect the person you’re speaking to—it influences how everyone else engages for the rest of the discussion. Or, your consistency (or lack thereof) with commitments doesn’t just impact your direct reports—it shapes the standard for reliability across your entire organization.
3 Ways Your Leadership Behaviors Can Create The Ripple Effect On Culture
1. The “First Five Minutes” Impact:Â Pay attention to how you show up in the first five minutes of meetings, conversations, and your workday. Are you bringing energy and focus, or stress and distraction? Your initial presence sets the tone for everything that follows. People mirror the energy you bring.
2. Language Under Pressure:Â When deadlines loom or problems arise, do you speak in ways that create urgency or anxiety? Do you ask questions that drive solutions or assign blame? Your language under pressure reveals your true leadership character and teaches others how to handle their own stress.
3. Intentional Positive Ripples:Â Deliberately choose behaviors that create the culture you want to see. When you publicly give credit, others start doing the same. When you admit mistakes quickly, you normalize accountability. Your intentional positive behaviors become contagious.
Here are some additional resources to help you act in ways that build a positive ripple effect on your team and company culture:
đź‘€ Watch: TED Talk: “How Great Leaders Inspire Action” – Simon Sinek on the biology of leadership influence.
đź“š Read: Harvard Business Review Article “The Small Actions That Become Your Legacy“Â – How self-reflection helps bring intention to the everyday choices that shape legacy.
đź“š Read: Begin with WEÂ – Ten proven principles that dismantle dysfunction and build what every workplace needs: a Culture of Excellence.
P.S. Discover Your Leadership Ripple Effect:  Our Self-Aware Leader 360-Degree Assessment shows you exactly how your leadership behaviors impact others. You might be surprised by the gaps between your intentions and your actual influence.