Culture at its core

Culture happens in real life.

Not in strategy, codes of conduct, or core values displayed on walls.
To take organizational culture seriously, you first have to take people seriously.

Stephan Ummelen
Writer, speaker, and organizational advisor

Editorial portrait of Stephan Ummelen

The core of culture

From Human Resources to Human Relations

We’ve long known that culture is crucial to the success of people working together. Yet for decades, we’ve tried to manage it as though it were the organization’s property. We come up with a set of core values and voilà: there they are, in black and white. This approach alienates people instead of bringing them together.

We’re also gaining a better understanding of what people need to grow. Having a say in the work they’re responsible for, for example. Opportunities to develop and a sense of belonging.

The reality is that culture takes shape in small, meaningful moments.
Moments that, unfortunately, rarely make it onto meeting agendas.

It’s up to leaders to make space to recognize and celebrate those moments, and to connect each employee’s story with the story of the organization.

Clients

City of Eindhoven

Ministry of Justice and Security

ICM Training

Nespresso Netherlands

Province of Flevoland

Public Prosecution Service

FrieslandCampina

KPMG

ProRail

Mensa Netherlands

Dutch Tax and Customs Administration

Radboud University

Stephan Ummelen giving an interactive talk
Keynote and conversation · culture in real life

Keynote — City of Eindhoven

The sense and nonsense of values.

An honest story about values in organizations, helping leaders and their employees develop a shared language for talking about organizational culture.

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Workshop — organizational rituals

Learn to recognize the rituals within your organization.

Every organization is full of rituals. In my workshop, you’ll learn how to reconnect them with your organization’s culture.

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A temporary meeting space between institutional buildings
Making room for a different conversation
Employees in conversation during a program about leadership and trust
OFI · leadership and trust

Program — OFI

Leadership begins with trust.

During a 24-hour program, I help the management team understand how trust shows up in everyday collaboration—and what it takes to lead well and maintain strong relationships when tensions rise.

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Working together is about relationships.Relationships are about trust.Trust is about caring about the same things.

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