Can you tell your organization's "culture story" in precisely 6 words? Knowing who you are, what you stand for, and what you won't stand for - and being able to tell that story in just 6 words - gives you an incredible source of competitive advantage for marketing and recruiting.

1. Creating Your
Six Word
Culture Story
Joe Tye, CEO and Head Coach
Values Coach Inc.
Copyright © 2015, Values Coach Inc.

2. Culture eats strategy for
lunch* – but in the best
of organizations they
share the meal together
Click here for more slide show on
12 Reasons Culture Eats Strategy for Lunch

3. Can you tell your
organization’s
culture story in
just 6 words?

4. An exercise
adapted from…
www.CulturalBlueprint.com

5. I borrowed this concept from
the book Six- Word Memoirs

6. One of my very favorites
“Cursed with Cancer
Blessed with Friends”
9 year old Hannah Davies

7. This guy built a career – and made a
fortune – with a six-word story

8. Precisely 6 words – not 5 and not 7
Like writing a sonnet or a haiku, the
structure gives discipline to the
process

9. A six-word culture story is NOT a
laundry list of attributes:
Committed Helpful
Caring Supportive
Responsive Friendly

10. A six-word story is NOT an
advertising jingle:
Beautiful people
serving beautiful
customers with joy

11. Southwest Airlines can
do it…

12. Southwest Airlines Motto
Servant’s Heart, Warrior Spirit,
Fun-Loving Attitude

13. 13
Because of this culture, Southwest
Airlines might be the only airline
that can credibly run this ad >>>>>

15. Cypress Semiconductor
can do it…

16. Cypress Semiconductor Motto
The Marine Corps of
Silicon Valley
One of their core values is
“We don’t tolerate losing” and
their CEO wrote this book 

17. 17
Cypress Semiconductor almost never
makes hiring mistakes because they
are so clear about who they are and
what they stand for

18. This is a great small
group exercise

19. 19
A sample of 6-word culture
descriptions from recent
leadership retreats conducted by
Values Coach…

20. 20
Sometimes the 6 word culture
stories almost make you want
to quit your job and go word
for that organization >>>>>

21. 21
We love customers
and each other

22. 22
We are ALWAYS
here for you

23. 23
Fellowship & fun
while working hard

24. 24
Sometimes the 6 word culture
stories make you wonder how
the organization can even stay
in business >>>>>

25. 25
We have lost that
loving feeling

26. 26
Multiple priorities,
limited resources,
great expectations

27. 27
Disjointed depts
working against
each other

28. 28
Isolated silos
Caste system
Bitch buddies

29. 29
Negativity reigns
while circling the
drain

30. 30
We’re entitled,
hating it,
and staying

31. 31
Beatings will
continue until
morale improves

32. 32
We often see the most positive
and most negative six-word culture
stories come from people in the
same organization!

34. 34
Your six-word culture story
can be both descriptive
and prescriptive

35. From an entrepreneurial small business
We’re tough
We’re focused
We win

36. 36
At Values Coach we have put a lot of
thought and research into what
constitutes a great culture…

37. 37
You will have a great culture if you
have these three qualities – if you
can tell your culture story with these
6 words >>>>>

38. Emotionally Positive
Self Empowered
Fully Engaged

39. The Florence Challenge is a
structured process for gaining
employee commitment to a
culture of ownership

41. It is helping hospitals and
other organizations promote a
more positive and productive
culture all across the country

42. Palmetto Health
South Carolina

43. Maine Medical Center
Portland Maine

44. Midland Memorial Hospital
Midland, Texas

45. Steele Memorial Medical Center
Salmon, Idaho

46. Grinnell Regional Medical Center
Grinnell, Iowa

47. Kalispell Regional Healthcare
Kalispell, Montana

48. What if everyone where you
work were more emotionally
positive, self empowered, and
fully engaged?

49. Would you do a better job of
serving customers and
patients?

50. Would you do a better job of
supporting coworkers?

51. Would people be happier and
more productive – and go
home in better spirits?

52. Culture doesn’t change
unless and until people
change

53. The Florence Prescription is a blueprint
for fostering a culture of ownership –
and it’s just $5 per book at:
www.TheFlorenceChallenge.com

54. You can download the Certificate of
commitment and other free resources
at the Challenge Website

55. Make an event of the signing

56. To learn more contact
Values Coach:
Michelle@ValuesCoach.com
319-624-3889