What’s coming out of the speakers?

Mostly I’m invited into a radio station with the thought that I might impact what’s coming out of the speakers. And while it’s true that excellence in programming can fuel a station’s growth and impact, there is an aspect of that transformation that can be easily overlooked.

Transformation happens in the hallways before it happens on the air.

A toxic culture inside impedes a station’s impact outside.

I once dealt with a radio station whose culture was so toxic that the program director’s office was intentionally spaced as far away from his programming team as possible. As a result, silos formed. Communication was impacted. Culture was impacted. People felt left out.

Yes, it is important to strive for excellence. But let’s not forget that it happens in the hallways before it happens in the speakers.

To help create a healthy culture what sign would you post in your hallways?