When “Good Enough” Isn’t Good Culture
You’ve got a good team. But something’s not working — and it’s getting harder to ignore.
People are turning up. No one’s causing trouble. But the spark’s gone.
Energy’s low. Conversations are surface-level.
You’re chasing things that used to happen automatically.
And if you’re honest, the culture’s started to drift.
Not because anyone’s bad — but because you’re busy, stretched, and firefighting more than leading.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
It’s one of the most common things I hear from practice owners and managers:
“I don’t know exactly what’s wrong — it just doesn’t feel how it used to.”
And if that’s you, you’re not failing.
You’re just facing one of the hardest parts of leadership.
Because here’s the truth:
Culture isn’t what you say.
It’s what you tolerate.
It’s built — or undermined — in the quiet moments when we let things slide.
Lateness. Passive comments. A capable team member coasting.
A value you’ve stated… that no one’s actually living.
And the reasons we tolerate? They’re not bad intentions — they’re very normal:
Fear — “What if they take it the wrong way?”
Fatigue — “I’ve just not had the headspace to deal with it.”
Lack of skill — “I don’t know how to raise it without making things worse.”
Doubt — “Maybe it’s just me?”
Time pressure — “I’ll deal with it… later.”
But every time we let something slide that doesn’t align with who we want to be as a team… we’re teaching our culture. Not with words — with actions.
So what’s the answer?
It’s not to beat yourself up or confront everything tomorrow.
It’s to reset — clearly, calmly, and with structure.
That means:
Resetting expectations – Reclarify what “good” looks like. Not just the what, but the how.
Rebuilding rhythm – Culture fades when there’s no rhythm. Regular team time, short check-ins, visible values.
Modelling accountability – Your tone sets the tone. When you hold boundaries and invite feedback, others follow.
The truth is: no one taught you how to be a great boss.
But you can learn to become one.
And it starts with choosing not to tolerate what erodes trust, connection, and motivation.
Want help getting started?
I’ve put together a simple Culture Reset Guide — it’s totally free and gives you four daily culture triggers you can start using straight away.
Don’t wait for things to break.
Lead the reset.
And watch your culture come back to life.
