Why Culture Change Stalls — and What to Do About It

You’ve read the values.
You’ve held the meetings.
You’ve sent the memo.

And yet—things still feel stuck.  The culture isn’t shifting the way you hoped.

If that’s familiar, you’re not alone. Many food industry leaders are pushing hard to improve safety, quality, and collaboration. But the results aren’t matching the effort. So what’s missing?

The Core Truth: Culture Doesn’t Change Unless Leaders Do

Culture is built—quietly and consistently—through daily behavior.  That means when we want to shift culture, we have to look not just at policies or posters, but at how we show up as leaders.

“If behaviors aren’t changing, you aren’t leading.”
– John Maxwell

This doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means there’s a critical opportunity.

Why Culture Change Often Stalls

1. We Focus on Systems, Not Behavior

It’s easier to redesign a workflow than it is to change how people give feedback, speak up, or hold one another accountable.  Real change is behavioral.

2. We Expect Compliance Instead of Commitment

Culture change can’t be forced. When it feels top-down, people may comply—but they won’t commit. That means they stay quiet. They go through the motions. They don’t take ownership.   Want to dive deeper? Read our BLOG on shifting from compliance to commitment.

3. Leaders Aren’t Supported to Change First

Culture won’t shift if the people modeling it haven’t done their own work. Self-awareness. Communication. Emotional intelligence. It starts at the top—and it spreads through everyday actions.

What to Do Instead: Start With You

If you want to change your culture, look at how you lead. Ask yourself:

• Are my daily actions aligned with the culture I say I want?
  
• What behaviors am I rewarding—intentionally or not?
  
• Do my team members feel safe to speak up? Disagree? Offer ideas?

Explore How Your Leadership Shapes Culture

We created a free worksheet to help you reflect on the habits and behaviors that drive your team’s culture.

🎯 Download the free worksheet: Culture Change Starts with Leadership Download

Whether you’re leading a team, a shift, or a department—your leadership creates the culture. And if you’re ready to lead differently, we’re here to help.