Orrin Woodward, my co-author on Launching a Leadership Revolution, and I are beginning work on a new book about leadership and its impact on culture. In effect, leaders create the culture and the culture creates the success.

As we live our lives and fulfill our responsibilities, it may be helpful to consider the type of culture we create with every action we take.

Do we inspire confidence and intitiative, or do we “shoot the messenger” and punish mistakes?

Do we empower and trust, or block efforts and foster mistrust?

Do we encourage and support, or detract and reduce?

Such a list of questions could go on forever. Real leaders cannot afford to ignore such self-inspection. They must constantly analyze their performance and its affect on the culture they are leading. Where there is a sick culture there is an ineffective or destructive leader (or leaders).

Success is a never-ending project. Leaders must foster productive cultures continually to even have a chance of staying in the competitive arena. Anyone who thinks differently better prepare for lunch – as the main course!