Culture Turned : Using Ugrs to Boost Performance and Culture

Every organisation has rules that nobody wrote down, nobody formally agreed to and yet almost everyone understands. These are Unwritten Ground Rules, or UGRs. They shape what people say, what they avoid, which standards genuinely matter and what leaders are permitted to ignore. In *The Rules Nobody Wrote*, workplace culture specialists Steve Simpson and Stef du Plessis reveal how these hidden rules emerge, why they can become more influential than formal policies and organisational values, and what leaders can do to change them. Drawing on compelling true stories gathered across more than three decades, the authors take readers inside boardrooms, mine sites, hotels, warehouses, factories and one of the world's most exciting automotive companies. These stories show how culture is created and reinforced through everyday leadership decisions, casual conversations, workplace rituals and the behaviour that organisations reward, tolerate or overlook. The book explores both constructive and damaging UGRs, including those inherited from previous generations of employees and leaders. It demonstrates why well-intentioned culture initiatives often fail when the values displayed on the wall conflict with the rules operating in the room. Accessible, engaging and practical, *The Rules Nobody Wrote* helps leaders recognise the cultural signals they may be sending without realising it. It provides questions for reflection, practical resources and a powerful way of seeing what is really driving behaviour inside an organisation. This is a book for executives, managers, people and culture professionals, consultants and anyone responsible for building trust, improving workplace relationships and creating a culture in which stated values are genuinely lived.…