Part 01

Vocabulary
CULTURAL CHANGE THAT STICKS

Alignment (n) /əˈlaɪn.mənt/

An agreement between a group of

countries, political parties, or people who
want to work together because of shared
interests or aim.

Eg: Executives may underestimate how

much a strategy’s effectiveness depends
on cultural alignment.
CULTURAL CHANGE THAT STICKS

Intransigence (n) /ɪnˈtræn.sɪ.dʒəns/

The quality of refusing to change your

opinions or behaviour

Eg: Some corporate leaders struggle

with cultural intransigence for years.
 CULTURAL CHANGE THAT STICKS

Meritocracy (n) /ˌmer.əˈtɑː.krə.si/

A social system, society, or organization in

which people get success or power because
of their abilities, not because of their money
or social position.

Eg: The company is a meritocracy. Good

work is rewarded with promotions.
CULTURAL CHANGE THAT STICKS

Prevalent (adj)/ˈprev.əl.ənt/

Existing very commonly or happening often.

Eg: First observe the behavior

prevalent in your organization now.

Synonym: prevailing, frequent

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Isolated (adj)/ˈaɪ.sə.leɪ.t̬ ɪd/

Happening or existing only once, separate.

Eg: A group of senior executives interviewed

them and isolated a set of crucial motivating
behaviors, such as role-modeling good
customer service.
CULTURAL CHANGE THAT STICKS

Skeptically (adv)/ˈskep.tɪ.kəl.i/

Doubting that something is true or

useful.
Eg: Employees skeptically prepared for yet
another exhausting effort to transform the
company into an efficient growth engine.
CULTURAL CHANGE THAT STICKS

Reluctance (n) /rɪˈlʌk.təns/

An unwillingness to do
something.

Eg: Customer service could manifest

itself as a reluctance to cut costs.
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Spontaneous (adj)/spɑːnˈteɪ.ni.əs/

Happening or done in a natural, often sudden

way, without any planning or without being
forced.

Eg: he received a spontaneous

standing ovation.
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Recalcitrant (adj)/rɪˈkæl.sɪ.trənt/

(of a person) unwilling to obey orders or to do

what should be done, or (of an animal) refusing
to be controlled.

Eg: It was only as a result of a strong

managed-care movement that emerged in the
1980s and 1990s that Aetna had gained a
reputation as a stingy, recalcitrant company.
CUTURAL CHANGE THAT STICKS

Seek sb/sth out (v) /siːk/

To look for someone or something,

especially for a long time until you find them.

Eg. At Aetna, Rowe explicitly sought out

informal interactions with employees
CUTURAL CHANGE THAT STICKS

Perspective (n) /pərˈspek·tɪv/

To think about a situation or problem in a

wise and reasonable way::

Eg. Potential leaders who could offer invaluable

perspectives on the cultural situation.
CUTURAL CHANGE THAT STICKS

Rapport with (n) /ræpˈɔːr/

A good understanding of someone and an

ability to communicate well with them

Eg. These discussions not only gave him insights

about the staff but created a rapport with them
CUTURAL CHANGE THAT STICKS

Backslide (v) /ˈbæk·slɑɪd/

The action of relapsing into bad ways or

error.

Eg. Rigorous measurement allows

executives to identify backsliding.
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Proportionate (adj) /prəˈpɔːʃənət/

Corresponding in size or amount to something else

Eg. Own behaviors have a disproportionate impact

on the experiences of others or on business
success.
CUTURAL CHANGE THAT STICKS

Coherence (n) /koʊˈhɪr.əns/

The situation when the parts of something fit

together in a natural or reasonable way

Eg. Coherence among your culture, your

strategic intent
CUTURAL CHANGE THAT STICKS

Jarring (adj) /ˈdʒɑr·ɪŋ/

Different from surrounding or usual things, or

disagreeing with others, and therefore
surprising or upsetting

Eg. The overall change effort will be far less

jarring for all concerned