Crafting the Culture

Nailing down a precise definition of culture can be tricky; at times, it seems as if culture is more a "feeling" than anything that can be quantified, measured, or seen. Yet, the feeling about culture one gets when entering any school or classroom is palpable and it is relatively easy to distinguish between schools and classrooms with strong cultures from those with less productive cultures. Any leader interested in maximizing their influence on others and the performance of those they lead, whether first-grade students, a group of teachers, or a team of business professionals, must be intentional about focusing on the culture they are trying to build and maintain. Crafting the Culture is a collection of short, targeted insights into school culture from two leaders who speak about culture in presentations throughout the country. The book contains daily reflections on culture that include a focus on specific words and phrases that characterize cultures of excellence. These forty-five short insights into culture will inspire you to think about how you are currently crafting the culture in your own setting. Each daily reflection in this book includes a meaningful quote about culture-or the specific culture focus of the day-as well as thoughts from the authors on the day's culture focus followed by reflective questions and action steps for readers to consider. By carving out a few minutes each day to read these inspirational daily passages, you can begin Crafting the Culture in your own setting!