Culture: the thing that can make or break your company

If you ever want to go down a rabbit hole, try googling ‘toxic’ and ‘creative industry’. Go on, give it a go. We’ll wait.
Oh, you’re back? How was it? Feeling sick yet?

Despite the hundreds of stories, and whistleblowers, and studies – like the Ulster University one in December 2023 that found that up to 60% of creatives had had ‘suicidal thoughts’ thanks to the toxicity of their jobs – not much has really changed. We had Weinstein in the US, and Jimmy Saville in the UK, and everyone said that it wouldn’t happen again. Then Russell Brand happened.

It turns out that the media and creative industries really, really suck at being nice places to work. And the reason for that is our culture.

Whilst the trend for introducing lunchtime yoga classes, break-out areas with beanbags, and after-hours clubs is a positive step towards bringing colleagues together and putting wellbeing on the agenda, these activities do not constitute culture. Culture is a tapestry woven from the threads of ingrained behaviours, time-honoured customs, beliefs, and values perpetuated by an interplay of communication and imitation passed down from one generation to the next.

A thriving culture signifies far more than mere perks or amenities; it engenders an environment where individuals are not only encouraged but also empowered to unleash their utmost potential. In essence, a positive culture paves the way to a future where businesses reap the rewards of heightened dedication and enhanced performance.

Yeah. But we’re not doing that.

Why we’re so crap at culture

Having been charged with hiring talent for start-ups and scale-ups for over two decades, it is clear to me that a significant root cause of toxic workplace cultures is a near-universal deficiency of leadership training, compounded by a shortage of accountability.

Many industry leaders have ascended to their positions through excellence in content creation, salesmanship, or adeptness in managing upwards. The media industry often lionises personality over leadership acumen, promoting individuals with little consideration for their readiness or competence in new roles.  

Executive producers become commissioners, salespeople, and creatives win an award and the next minute are overseeing huge teams, and programme-makers ascend to the heights of CEO, but despite the vast disparities in skill sets, at no point are they offered any training to bridge the gap in their skillset.

Why do we create these sink-or-swim cultures? And why do those thrust into such steep learning curves feel incapable of admitting, "Help! I'm out of my depth here"? How can someone who one moment was a producer suddenly become proficient in the art of cultivating a healthy culture when they've never been shown the way? 

The easy fix that nobody’s doing

Thrive has been immersed in talent search and strategy for over two decades, placing leaders across all sectors. Through first-hand observation, we have witnessed the repercussions of talented individuals landing in unhealthy cultures.

To combat this we have forged a strategic partnership with Value Squared, a consultancy founded by serial entrepreneur Juliette Otterburn-Hall.

Drawing upon her unique background as a director, executive producer, and the founder of numerous thriving businesses in the creative arena, Juliette has developed a ground-breaking program designed to educate both seasoned leaders and start-up founders in the art of crafting flourishing cultures.

The Thrive & Partners/Value Squared programme is a step-by-step process that creates accountability within hierarchies, meaning that questionable behaviour is less likely to slip through the net.

The journey towards establishing safe and thriving creative cultures starts with founders and leaders collaborating to define a unified set of values and principles. Then by nurturing clear lines of communication and upholding the accountability of managers and leaders, organisations can cultivate a culture that is both reflexive and transparent.

Leaders must also fearlessly seek and embrace candid feedback from their teams. The simplicity and effectiveness of people feeling heard should not be underestimated as a leadership tool. While no business can wholly eradicate negative behaviours, the Value Squared initiatives have begun to demonstrate the potential to substantially reshape the status quo.

If we can create anything, then let’s create culture

There’s no such thing as ‘no culture’. Like it or not, the way your teams work, relax and interact with each other has turned into the culture of your business. And if you can’t immediately say what that is, then you’re not in control of it. And it can quickly turn toxic.

Luckily, we’re all creatives, so we can easily create a new culture. One that’s open, honest, collaborative and supportive. One that people actively want to join and enjoy. By working with Thrive & Partners and Value Squared, you can create a positive culture that shapes not only your commercial success but also the lives of your talented employees.

Let’s embrace a new era of accountability, transparency, and empathy, we can finally extricate ourselves from the toxic legacies of the past, forging a media industry that stands as a paragon of creativity and compassion.

To find out more or discuss how we can help your team please contact hello@thr-v.com.