Culture Eats Strategy — But Who’s Doing the Cooking?

We’ve all heard the quote: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” It’s catchy, provocative, and increasingly true. But here’s the twist we rarely talk about — if culture is doing the eating, someone’s doing the cooking. And in most organisations, no one’s quite sure who that is.

At LNL Consulting, we believe culture isn’t just a vibe. It’s a living system — shaped by leaders, teams, rituals, and the invisible rules that govern how things really get done. Strategy might set the menu, but culture decides what’s served, how it’s seasoned, and whether anyone actually wants to eat it.

You can have the sharpest strategic plan in the room — clear goals, crisp KPIs, and a roadmap that ticks every box. But if the culture underneath it doesn’t support the behaviours, mindsets, and relationships needed to execute, that strategy will stall.

Culture shows up in the micro-moments: how leaders give feedback, how teams handle conflict, how decisions are made when no one’s watching. It’s not just about values on a wall — it’s about what’s rewarded, what’s tolerated, and what’s quietly avoided.

And here’s the kicker: culture isn’t neutral. It’s either reinforcing your strategy or eroding it. So Who’s Shaping Culture?

Culture isn’t owned by HR. It’s co-created — every day — by:

• Leaders, who model behaviours and set emotional tone.

• Teams, who build norms through shared experience.

• Systems, like performance reviews, onboarding, and recognition, which signal what matters.

• Rituals, from weekly stand-ups to how birthdays are celebrated, which shape belonging and rhythm.

  
  

When these elements are aligned, culture becomes a strategic asset. When they’re disconnected, culture becomes the silent saboteur.

Intentional Design Is the Secret Ingredient. That means designing leadership development, learning experiences, and systems that reinforce the culture you want — not just the one you have.

It’s not about controlling culture. It’s about curating it. Like any good recipe, it takes time, testing, and a few bold flavours. But when done well, culture doesn’t just support strategy — it accelerates it.

So next time you’re reviewing your strategic plan, ask yourself: who’s cooking the culture that’s meant to deliver it? Are your leaders equipped to model it? Are your systems reinforcing it? Are your teams tasting it — and asking for seconds?

Because in the end, culture eats strategy for breakfast. And if you’re not intentional about who’s in the kitchen, don’t be surprised when the meal doesn’t land.

Written By

Marie Cowling

Marie is a seasoned Human Resources professional with over 15 years of experience, specialising in learning, wellbeing, and organisational development. With a Master of Human Resource Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, she possesses the strategic and analytical skills necessary to drive impactful HR initiatives.