The Learn-It-All Podcast 119: The #1 Culture Mistake That’s Costing Your Company Millions | Dr. Jessica Kriegel
Are you frustrated by employees who seem disengaged and unmotivated? You can get your team to truly care about their work beyond just collecting a paycheck.
In this illuminating episode, culture expert Dr. Jessica Kriegel challenges conventional wisdom about workplace culture and shares data-driven insights on what actually drives employee engagement and business results. Together with host Damon Lembi, she explores how leaders can create cultures that drive measurable outcomes by focusing on beliefs rather than actions. Drawing from extensive research, including a groundbreaking study with Stanford University, Jessica explains why many popular approaches to culture fall short and reveals surprising findings about what truly makes organizations successful. From debunking generational stereotypes to sharing practical strategies for leading remote teams, this episode offers fresh perspectives on building high-performing cultures in today's evolving workplace.
This Episode Covers:
• Why focusing on employees' beliefs rather than just their actions leads to sustainable behavior change and better results
• The surprising finding that "adaptable" cultures outperform other culture types by 4x in revenue growth
• How public recognition should link specific actions to cultural beliefs and measurable results
• Why generational stereotypes are destructive and unsupported by data - including research showing older workers adopt workplace technology at the same rate as younger ones
• The importance of leaders modeling accountability instead of just demanding it from others
• Why forcing employees back to offices can signal resistance to adaptability and potentially harm culture
• Three key benefits of remote work: broader talent access, increased trust through flexibility, and more outcome-focused management
Episode Highlights:
(00:00) Introduction to Dr. Jessica Kriegel – Damon introduces Jessica and her expertise in workplace culture and leadership.
(01:35) Why Beliefs Matter More Than Actions – Jessica explains the concept of the “Results Pyramid” and how leaders can shift beliefs to drive sustainable behavior change.
(05:30) Stories and Recognition – Jessica highlights the importance of storytelling and recognition as tools for building alignment and engagement.
(09:00) Shaping a Culture of Accountability – Jessica shares actionable advice on fostering accountability at every level of an organization.
(12:33) The Adaptability Advantage – Jessica discusses her research on why adaptable cultures outperform rigid ones, especially in rapidly changing industries.
(17:00) Feedback and Leadership – Jessica emphasizes the value of asking for and acting on feedback to create trust and collaboration.
(21:30) Lessons from Oracle and Culture Partners – Jessica reflects on her experiences shaping culture at Oracle and her work at Culture Partners.
(33:18) Final Thoughts on Culture and Leadership – Damon and Jessica wrap up with key takeaways for building belief-driven organizations.
About Jessica:
Dr. Jessica Kriegel is Chief Scientist of Workplace Culture at Culture Partners, where she leads research and strategy to help Fortune 500 companies transform their organizational cultures. With over 15 years of experience, including a pivotal decade at Oracle during their cloud transformation, she has worked with prominent organizations like Lockheed Martin, Bank of America, and the Federal Reserve. Dr. Kriegel developed the "Culture Equation," a data-driven model that aligns organizational purpose, strategy, and culture to deliver measurable results. She holds a doctorate in Human Resources Development from Drexel University and an MBA, bringing academic rigor to her practical approach. A sought-after keynote speaker and author of Unfairly Labeled Dr. Kriegel's insights on workplace culture have been featured in major media outlets, including CNBC, Wall Street Journal, and Forbes.
Resources Referenced:
Dr. Jessica Kriegel on LinkedIn
Unfairly Labeled: How Your Workplace Can Benefit from Ditching Generational Stereotypes
by Jessica Kriegel
"This Week in Culture" newsletter on LinkedIn
Cascades: How to Create a Movement that Drives Transformational Change by Greg Satell
REI (discussed as culture example)
Podcast Contact Information:
Website: www.learnit.com
Email: podcast@learnit.com
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