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Build a Leadership Culture

by Jon Close
Sep 07, 2026

Leadership development should not be occasional.

It should become part of the organization’s culture.

When leadership development becomes normal, people naturally grow, contribute ideas, and step forward.

John C. Maxwell teaches that teams and/or organizations thrive when leaders intentionally build cultures where developing leaders is everyone’s responsibility, not just HR’s or senior management.

Leadership cultures multiply influence.


This Week’s Practice

Start strengthening your leadership culture.

This week:

• Ask someone what leadership skill they want to grow

• Share a leadership lesson or story with your team

• Encourage leadership discussions in team meeting (for example, asking what leadership looked like in a recent success

Leadership cultures grow through intentional conversations.


DISC Insight – Building Culture

D – Dominant

Encourage strategic thinking across the team.

I – Inspiring

Encourage collaboration and idea sharing.

S – Supportive

Encourage mentorship and support.

C – Cautious

Encourage systems that support leadership development.


Bottom Line

When leadership development becomes part of the culture, influence multiplies across the organization.

When leadership development becomes part of “how we do things here,” it stops being a program and starts being a shared way of working. In a true leadership culture, people at every level are looking for potential, creating opportunities, and helping each other grow, so influence naturally multiplies across the organization.

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