CULTURE

At its simplest, culture should be considered as an agreed set of customs and norms that inform, and are evident in, the behaviour of those who are part of an organisation –“the way we do things around here”.

To fully understand its importance, consideration needs to be given to not just how things are done but also the what and the why behind them. So much of what an organisation does and how they do it stems from why they exist.

In your club, think about about culture as the behaviours, social habits, values and customs exhibited by the people associated with the club, particularly the membership and the workforce (staff and volunteers).

Often, you can get a feel for the culture at club very quickly, as it is visible in the relationships and actions of people.

Governance and culture are connected and can influence each other. Clubs that have stronger governance will likely have a more positive culture, but a weaker culture can limit a clubs ability to implement change.