Who is Responsible for the Behavioural Integrity of an Organisation?

Is it the HR Team or the CEO who is ultimately responsible?

Justine McGrath

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Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

I recently had a client (I am an executive coach) who is a senior leader, tell me that it was impossible to change the culture of the organisation for whom he was working. It is a large firm with thousands of employees.

Why? I wondered. Isn’t it worth trying? In his case, he didn’t think so.

I am currently researching the topic of integrity in organisations, and it has led me down a rabbit hole of wondering who exactly is responsible for ensuring integrity is a core part of a company’s values.

Does the HR department have sole responsibility for ensuring that employees understand the organisation's values?

Through the small amount of research I have done, it appears the onus is placed more on the CEO or senior leadership of the organisation.

I also wonder why it is next to impossible to improve or change the culture of an organisation. I hear this all the time with clients:

‘Oh, it’s just the culture.’

‘But why can’t the culture change?’

‘Because that’s just they way it is.’

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Justine McGrath

ICF certified Executive Coach. Specialist in EI. Author ‘Conversations with my Father — Jack Kyle,’ and ‘The Elephant Crossing.’ http://proactivecoaching.ie