One of the most frequent questions I receive when leading different projects is this:
Is the leader the primary creator of organizational culture, or are the employees the ones who ultimately shape and sustain it — sometimes even creating a parallel culture of tolerance, avoidance, or underperformance?

The truth lies somewhere in between. A team is a system.Every individual influences the system, and in turn, the system impacts everyindividual. The question is not who holds the power — but rather whose influence prevails.

When we view organizational culture through this lens, it becomes clear that accountability is everyone's job. Leaders do set the tone —through vision, values, and direction. They carry the torch of the company’s purpose. But sustaining a healthy, productive culture isn’t a solo act. Culture is co-created.

Every time we hear persistent complaints, silos, or “that’s not my job” attitudes, we’re not just seeing a leadership gap — we’re seeing a lackof shared ownership.

This is why team leadership is more important than the team leader.
True team leadership is the capacity of each member — regardless of title —to step beyond what’s expected and take initiative when something isn’t working. It’s doing the right thing not because someone told us to, but because we care about the collective outcome.

Every team member has the power — and responsibility — to shape the culture they’re part of.
Because in the end, results — good or bad — are always co-created.

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