Positive, sustainable culture: do small things a little better Marcella Bremer Mon, 06/11/2023 - 16:37 How to combine sustainability with a positive organizational culture? Let’s learn from Ynzo van Zanten, the former Head of People & Culture at Tony's Chocolonely and former head of Innocent Drinks in the Benelux. The short answer: let’s do small things with great passion, and: have fun! Where to start? The IPCC reports send a clear message: we must take action to slow down global warming and reduce our greenhouse gases. Ynzo is very passionate about sustainability but also organizational ..read more

Why a corporate context entices transactional behaviors Marcella Bremer Tue, 03/10/2023 - 08:50 A colleague sends an email asking for information, but your helpful response doesn’t receive a Thanks! A prospect wants a video call with free advice, then a customized proposal, but you never hear back, even after sending multiple requests for an update. Do you recognize this? A leader expects you to reschedule your appointments so you have time to meet with her. Clients expect immediate and satisfying answers, even after office hours. Yes, we are busy. But the way we treat each other in a profess ..read more

Work on a nonviolent, compassionate culture Marcella Bremer Tue, 06/06/2023 - 08:13 What if your organizational culture was nonviolent, compassionate, and caring? You would like your work, share ideas and resources with co-workers, and probably do your best. You’d thrive. And so would the company, its results, and its contribution to the world. Here’s some inspiration from nonviolence and compassion research. How can you make your organization more compassionate? A nonviolent culture helps to build a better world. In this series, I explore organizational culture and what we need to face our c ..read more

What’s your organization’s positive purpose? Marcella Bremer Tue, 25/04/2023 - 09:59 We need innovative, decisive, positive, learning organizations - now more than ever. A positive organizational culture helps to make your work better, more fun, faster, but also contributes to better ESG solutions for the world. Plus, you can achieve 20-40% more productivity and results. See my book “Developing a Positive Culture”. Check how you can develop your organization’s shared positive purpose as that can help solve many ecological, social, and governance (ESG) issues. The world needs your contribution ..read more

Sustainable development goals for positive organizations Marcella Bremer Tue, 04/04/2023 - 08:09 Looking at our ecological, social, and governance challenges we need to change. We need a new narrative, a future-fit culture that is life-affirming and we need organizations with a positive purpose that solve our challenges. In this post, we look at your organization’s positive purpose. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can inspire all your decisions, actions, and interactions. In this series, I explore several aspects of culture and what is needed to face our current ecological, social ..read more

Can you change this story and culture? Marcella Bremer Tue, 14/03/2023 - 08:25 Our global, economic, science-based culture and our societal and organizational cultures can help or hinder us to transition to a future where all can thrive. In my last post, we looked at the ABCDE layers of culture. Let’s explore level A today. What’s the narrative of our current culture that caused our global ecological, social, and governance issues? Today, let’s look at the ecological, social, and governance challenges that we face. Let’s look at the narrative that got us here and what a new story and culture ..read more

Check your culture ABCDE Marcella Bremer Tue, 21/02/2023 - 08:09 In my last post, I mentioned the many crises and challenges of today’s world and that our culture is crucial for the future. It feels overwhelming and scary. How to respond? How to bridge the gap between knowing and doing? How to create systemic change? How to collaborate as organizations, and as individuals? How to make a difference and find the most effective lever? How to respond in time? We can’t think and talk about it for another decade - we need effective action.  Both people and organizations need qualities like pos ..read more

Organizational culture is crucial for the future Marcella Bremer Tue, 31/01/2023 - 14:18 We face so many ecological, social and governance issues. It feels overwhelming yet it’s crucial that we take time to upgrade ourselves and our organizations. Structures, processes, and strategy slow you down. Culture can help change the narrative and develop the core values, key behaviors and skills to create the future we want. If you work on a positive, learning, actionable and agile culture it speeds you up and helps achieve your positive purpose. Watching the doom of the news headlines one thing beco ..read more

ESG and a positive organizational purpose  Marcella Bremer Tue, 31/05/2022 - 11:15 What do Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors have to do with organizational culture? Everything! Culture influences how organizations respond to ESG obligations: whether they go for minimum compliance, diminish damage, or go further to deliver positive contributions to customers, society, and nature. Companies’ impacts range from negative to net zero to net positive. ESG can evolve from a legal obligation to an advantage for organizations that inspires their positive purpose and culture. By ..read more

Net Positive organizations give more than they take Marcella Bremer Tue, 15/02/2022 - 08:14 Here’s a must-read for all leaders, consultants, teams and other professionals: Net Positive - How courageous companies thrive by giving more than they take. “Green strategy” consultant Andrew Winston and Unilever’s ex-CEO Paul Polman make a compelling case for why organizations should do something about climate change and other global issues, and offer ideas for what and how. By the way, here is an earlier post about the connection between a positive culture and creating a positive impact for environm ..read more