Lead Like a Leader

In the video When Leadership Meets Resistance: Culture Clash, John Dempsey explores how culture deeply shapes what can and cannot happen within a team or organization. He highlights that culture isn’t just about values framed on posters—it’s about the informal norms, assumptions, and patterns of behavior that either support or thwart leadership. When leaders attempt change without respecting or understanding the existing culture, they’ll almost always face resistance. Dempsey emphasizes the need for leaders to engage with people’s beliefs, histories, and emotional currents—not just policies—if they want to shift culture in meaningful ways. He encourages leaders to listen closely, model desired behaviors, and align small daily practices with big picture values in order to build a healthy, resilient culture.