Culture is something and more than organizational culture. Culture is life-affirming, meaningful and gives life colors we didn't know we could see. Culture tells us about the difficult things in life, about the things that we either cannot handle ourselves or the things we don't want to know about. At the same time, culture is the force and the substance that gives us the meaning of life, inspiration for new thoughts and a renewed zest for life. Many experiences satisfy our expectations and hardly shake us, but suddenly we encounter a cultural event that changes our world view.

First of all, when we talk about culture, we should differentiate our use of terms. So that we distinguish between art and culture. Art is exactly what the word means, something that is difficult, something that is unique, exceptional. Culture is what we have together and do together, what we experience when we encounter art in any form and embodiment in any place. Culture is omnipresent and the thing that fills the void in our existence. We need to understand the word and agree on what the term covers in order to take the next step.

Art offers us new perspectives and through cultural currents we implement these in a daily life that, if we imagine an ideal world, will make life better for the general public and the individual.

Quite a few people talk about culture as something essential. As here from the website for the Government of Ontario: “Culture is the lifeblood of a vibrant society, expressed in the many ways we tell our stories, celebrate, remember the past, entertain ourselves, and imagine the future. Our creative expression helps define who we are, and helps us see the world through the eyes of others.”

I don't think anyone will disagree with me when I state that culture is an absolutely necessary substance in any society. And the absence of culture turns us all into animals as a refugee worker expressed it to me.

There are many both human and financial gains from a strong and vibrant cultural life, so why do we find it so difficult to prioritize culture politically, managerially and financially?

Culture shapes our identity and gives us a sense of belonging and belonging. Many consistent studies show that we want to experience culture together, i.e. give ourselves experiences we can share with others. Through this, culture can also teach us about other people and about other ways of seeing the world. Culture gives us new colors and perspectives and teaches us to value diversity and multiplicity.

A rich and vibrant art and cultural life is simply one of the strongest boosters we have. A booster that can create major fundamental changes in society and a dynamic catalyst for innovation. Something we really need.

What is the substance of a culture - what does culture consist of? Symbols, language, norms, values and artefacts which together interact and make us create our own identity in a cultural context. This is where the meaning of life is hidden.

In any organization that, as the name suggests, is organic, a diverse and strong culture is therefore of the greatest importance for the efficiency and well-being of this organization.

And here I come to sustainability and leadership. A sustainable leadership must necessarily work from the outside of a cultural value set that tells us to have a wealth hidden where sustainability is found. It's not something we play around with, but take it seriously. Sustainability can NOT be produced as a salable product but must be a culturally grounded practice. This is also where I would mention a "circular management perspective" or a "circular management practice." This requires practice to master and we can constantly improve. Just like with everything else, we never quite reach the goal, but can always become better at mastering sustainability.

What I am trying to express is that the presence of a healthy and strong culture is the cornerstone of any welfare society and any well-functioning organization. That is why it is one of the first things I focus on in my leadership.

I often think of my colleagues and myself as members of a large orchestra. This orchestra must play together and not only that, the orchestra must have a common pulse, a common "sound" and an orchestration that elevates the repertoire beyond the ordinary. For this, the culture is absolutely necessary as a supporting element in the organization.

You are welcome to send me an email or call me if you have any questions or want to know more.

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