“Can you come in and fix the culture?” is something that Cornerstone hear all the time, and each time it comes through, it is a major red flag. Not because the business isn’t in desperate need of support, but because the belief that culture can be ‘fixed’ externally is part of the problem.
Culture does not come from HR, or policies, and it is certainly not from consultants parachuting in to patch things up.
Cornerstone has worked with incredible businesses who have grown, thrived, and transformed not from the waving of a magic wand, but because leaders were willing to do the work. On the flipside, it has been necessary to walk away from clients where the problem was not the team, the structure, or the strategy; it was the leader.
Some leaders seek external support in the hope that it will ‘sort out the staff’ when really, it is the behaviour of leadership setting the tone. Leaders that are hostile, unaware, or stuck in a cycle of blame commonly micromanage, avoid hard conversations, or shut down feedback all the while wondering why morale is tanking.
What is incompetency fatigue?
Incompetency fatigue is when a leader is overwhelmed; not because the business is broken but because the business has outgrown the leadership style. Then instead of developing, they respond by doubling down on control or avoidance. It may be disguised as ‘being too busy’ or ‘under pressure’ but the truth is, they are not ready to lead at the level the business now demands.
Culture starts and ends with leadership
If leaders are not willing to take a hard look in the mirror and shift the way they lead, nothing truly changes. Sending out a fancy looking survey when there are obvious problems is highly dangerous, and is likely to compound the issue if it is not followed by real, human conversations.
Employees want to be heard, not fill out a checkbox on a form. Employees want to see change and if leadership is not present or responsive, it only erodes trust further.
The 3 As of Leadership
For businesses that are ready to turn things around, the focus should be on 3 essential things.
Awareness
Do leaders see what is really going on, or are they just seeing what they want to see?
Leaders often miss the fact that:
- Their team is walking on eggshells
- Their ‘open-door’ policy feels more like a trapdoor
- Their own behaviour is enabling the problem
The solution? Ask. Listen. Reflect. When people stop speaking up, that is not calm – it is fear or disconnection.
Accountability
Are leaders holding themselves to the same standards expected from everyone else?
We see it all the time. Leaders who dodge hard conversations, miss deadlines, or protect high performers with toxic attitudes.
The solution? Walk the talk. Own mistakes. Be consistent. Leaders set the tone, whether they mean to or not.
Action
Are leaders following through or just talking about it?
The quickest way to lose trust is promising change and doing nothing. People notice.
The solution? Make a move. Even a small step, clearly communicated, builds momentum. Leadership is action, not intention.
Why it matters
The shift when leaders are willing to grow is significant. Teams re-engage, trust returns, performance lifts, and culture repairs itself. When leaders won’t; blame spreads, good people leave, and the business shrinks or stalls.
The 3 As of Leadership – awareness, accountability, action – is simple, but not easy. It requires humility, clarity, and courage. But for leaders who can lean into them? They will not only transform the culture; they will become the kind of leader people want to follow. Ready to lead with the 3 As? We help business owners and senior leaders cut through the noise, face the hard stuff, and create real traction. No fluff. Just strategy that sticks.
Want more details? Get in touch with our team today. Find our articles helpful? Remember to follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn to keep up to date with our practical tips and information for business owners and managers.