HR, We Have a Problem - Why leadership and culture are inseparable forces that drive sustainable business results and how adaptive organizations build psychological safety to thrive through change.

The HR Huddle

In this episode of HR, We Have a Problem, Teri Zipper along with Susan Richards and guests Tee Thorsen, LAITHOS Co-Founder and Managing Partner, and Mary Ellen Clagett, LAITHOS Leadership Catalyst and Co-Founder and Managing Partner, explore how leadership directly shapes organizational culture and why both elements are critical for driving sustainable business results, especially during rapid technological and market changes.

They discuss what makes culture "adaptive" - including psychological safety, learning mindsets, and resilience - while addressing the communication challenges leaders face in building trust across their organizations.

Key points covered include:

↪️ Leaders must focus on being trustworthy through the equation C+R+I/SO (Credibility + Reliability + Intimacy divided by Self-Orientation), demonstrating expertise, consistency, and genuine care while keeping personal agendas in check.

↪️ Organizational culture functions like a hidden operating system - you can have the best strategy, but without supportive culture, it's like running new software on outdated hardware and simply won't work effectively.

↪️ Successful organizations cultivate curiosity, psychological safety, learning mindsets, and the ability to balance stability with flexibility.

↪️ Leaders must be "multilingual" in their communication approach while maintaining authenticity, and the medium of communication matters as much as the message itself.

Don’t miss this exciting thought leader conversation! Follow the hosts and companies mentioned below:

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Teri Zipper

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Susan Richards

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Tracey (Tee) Thorsen

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Mary Ellen Clagett

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