A Culture Turned: Using UGRs to boost performance and culture

To the outside world, Australia-based Very Important Corporation is a thriving and successful company. What the world doesn’t know is that Bruce Bottomline, the COO, is on the brink of quitting because he knows in his heart that the company’s culture is driving it headlong toward its own demise.

Bruce is a cofounder of this company with long-time friend and CEO Helen Hardcharger, so he doesn’t want to abandon their dream. But he can’t see any way to fix the problem.

Fortunately for Bruce and all of his partners and employees, fate has planned a chance meeting on an airplane between him and Sam Sherlock. Sam introduces Bruce to the concept of UGRs, or unwritten ground rules. It turns out that at the Very Important Corporation, complaining in meetings is pointless because no one tackles the issues. And employees only get visits from their boss if something is wrong. Unwritten ground rules like these need a serious overhaul. This is the vehicle for change, and Bruce comes away recharged and prepared to put the company’s corporate culture back on a track.

Learn from Bruce’s mistakes and triumphs how you, too, can address your company’s UGRs and revitalize its culture.

Steve Simpson is an international speaker, consultant, and author based in Melbourne, Australia. He earned his master's degree from the University of Alberta and works with companies worldwide.

Stef du Plessis is an international speaker, consultant, and author based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He earned his master's degree in personal and professional leadership from the University of Johannesburg.

They are great friends, colleagues, and frequent collaborators who are passionate about and active in larger international culture-change initiatives.