How—and When—to Change the Culture of a Business

Key points

Changing a business’ culture may be the way to save it.

Leaders understand the culture of their business and can assume the responsibility for changing it.

Leaders accept new ways of thinking outside their comfort zone.

A leadership style that works in one context may not work in another.

Refining strategy recommendations Source: Wikimedia

My client Jack was the founder of a mid-range hedge fund. He had majored in math at college, found his calling as a “quant,” and thought he was just having fun.

But when people consult me, it’s because the fun has stopped.

I’d read about Jack’s troubles in The Wall Street Journal, but I asked him, “Tell me in your own words.”

Now in his mid-30s, Jack started with a virtual day-by-day account of his career . The guy was a total g