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Culture review and strategy

Strengthen your team culture from the inside out

Every team has a culture — the habits, stories and shared values that shape how work gets done when no one’s watching. A healthy team culture brings energy, focus and connection. A poor one quietly holds your organisation back.

At Elm, we help organisations understand and shape the cultures within their teams so people feel engaged, connected and aligned with purpose. Because culture should be a strategic priority, not an afterthought. As Peter Drucker famously said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”

Why culture matters

Team culture drives performance. It influences how people collaborate, make decisions and adapt to change. When culture is intentional, it builds trust and clarity. When it is left to chance, confusion and disconnection can take hold.

We believe great communication and great culture go hand in hand. Reviewing and strengthening your team culture helps ensure that the way your people work supports the strategy you have set.

Culture review

We begin by getting to know your team. Through interviews, surveys and workshops, we explore what drives people, how they communicate and where friction might exist. This helps you see what’s really happening beneath the surface.

  • Define the purpose: Clarify what you want to learn and why — whether it’s improving engagement, collaboration or alignment with strategy.
  • Gather insights: Use interviews, surveys and observation to explore how your team communicates, makes decisions and lives your values.
  • Analyse and identify themes: Draw out the key strengths, challenges and opportunities shaping your culture.
  • Test and refine: Share findings with leaders or culture champions to ensure accuracy and buy-in.
  • Recommend and plan: Deliver a clear report with practical steps to shape a stronger, more connected team culture.

Culture strategy

Using insights from the review, we design a practical strategy for change. This outlines the leadership and communication practices that will bring your desired culture to life. Our strategies outline your teams:

  • Vision and purpose: A shared understanding of what kind of culture you want and why it matters.
  • Values and behaviours: The specific actions and mindsets that bring your organisational values to life.
  • Leadership alignment: How leaders will model and reinforce the desired culture.
  • Communication and storytelling: Ways to share, celebrate and embed culture across teams.
  • Systems and processes: How recruitment, onboarding, recognition and performance practices support the culture.
  • Measurement: Tools to track progress and maintain accountability over time.

Embedding and support

Culture doesn’t shift overnight. We guide you through the process of embedding new habits and behaviours through leadership alignment, team workshops and communications planning. We can help you:

  • Design meetings, activities and rituals that bring values to life in practical ways.
  • Build capability through coaching and training.
  • Support leaders to communicate and reinforce the change.

What you’ll gain

You’ll gain:

  • A clear picture of your current team dynamics and culture.
  • A practical roadmap to strengthen communication and collaboration.
  • Alignment between your team’s culture and your organisation’s purpose.
  • Tools to maintain a positive and connected workplace over time.

By reviewing your team culture and linking it directly to your organisational goals, you are building a foundation for long-term success, one conversation at a time.