It Goes Beyond IQ: Shaping a Healthy Workplace Culture for Success

Mature leaders create environments where trust, transparency, and accountability thrive. This aligns with my own observations, especially in the nonprofit world where I’ve spent much of my career. Organizational cultures that succeed tend to have leaders who are emotionally mature—those who prioritize collaboration over competition and who foster a sense of psychological safety among their team members. Last week, I introduced you to how I learned from a life changing book about the importance of a leader’s emotional maturity - “The Maturity Factor” by Dr. Larry Liberty. Again, this is not a paid advertisement. I am sharing this as a learning resource that I discovered during my own professional development, personal growth, and even healing!

Organizational Culture – Do You Know the Signs?

Any group or organization has its own organization’s culture. This type of culture includes the shared core values, beliefs, and assumptions considered to be the appropriate ways to think and act within the group. It can be subtle. It is taught to newcomers, and strongly influences how people act/behave and make decisions. Dr. Harry Mintzberg, an author in business management describes it as: “Culture is the soul of the organization — the beliefs and values, and how they are manifested…” Somewhere along your career path, when starting a new job or position, here’s a phrase you’ve probably heard – “I don’t know. I can’t tell you why we do XYZ this way, it’s just the way we’ve always done it.” Okay, so that’s part of the culture.

Other signs of an organization’s culture include: the physical layout, such as office (or cubicle) size, its physical location, the types of celebrations; office/group rituals, like meetings start/end on time, the organization’s written policies as well as the “unspoken” rules and behaviors. Make sure you familiarize yourself with these elements and how these things can manifest in various group settings. Pay attention, stay alert. Time will tell…

Creating an Intentional Organizational Culture

Emotionally mature leaders are instrumental – a key ingredient in leading any effort to shaping organizational culture. Your organization’s culture is not something that arises by accident. It is shaped and influenced by leaders who intentionally set the tone, model behaviors, and create environments where values like trust, transparency, and respect are not just encouraged but expected. Whether in a classroom or when I led a nonprofit organization, I saw firsthand how a strong, cohesive culture could be a game changer. It was essential to create a space where each member felt they had a voice and could contribute to the collective vision.

The book's emphasis on how leaders must cultivate self-awareness, adaptability, and collaboration in order to influence positive change within their organizations resonates deeply with my own experiences. Remember this: No matter the size or professional field/industry, organizations thrive when their leaders are emotionally mature, fostering a culture where growth, feedback, acceptance, innovation, and critical thinking are welcome. Reading Liberty’s book helped me not only understand my own journey, but also of people I’ve worked with over the years. Maturity is a trait that I have seen develop in my coaching practice; that growth and introspection that often occurs after a career setback or some personal challenge. Those who embrace these moments of learning often emerge as stronger leaders. Conversely, leaders who lack maturity tend to make impulsive decisions and uncertainty, that can likely destabilize a team or an organization. Again, time will tell…

Emotional Maturity in Your Personal Life

On a personal level, I can’t help but see the parallels between the teachings of The Maturity Factor and the people I admire and respect most in my life. Whether it’s the wise elder who leads by example or the peer who shows incredible patience, those who can lead with grace in the face of adversity, emotional maturity stands out as a key differentiator. I’ve witnessed its significance in both personal relationships and professional settings. When people are able to remain grounded, navigate challenges with empathy, and communicate with clarity, they often inspire others to do the same. That’s emotional maturity.

The Importance of Maturity in Leadership and Life

In every space, emotionally mature individuals tend to lead with integrity, foster connection, and create environments where others feel safe and empowered to bring their best selves. In many ways, the lessons from reading The Maturity Factor are not just limited to the workplace world, but actually feel universal and equally relevant in your personal life: family dynamics, friendships, group memberships, and community engagements.

The Maturity Factor is not just a book on leadership—it is a guide to living with emotional intelligence and purpose. Its principles are a reminder that in both life and work, emotional maturity can bring lasting memories, personal fulfillment, and success. Whether you’re leading an organization, managing a small team, or navigating your personal life, the principles of maturity that Liberty describes can be applicable. Wherever you are on your leadership journey, the book serves as a timely reminder that true leadership is rooted not in power or control, but in the ability to understand, adapt, and grow through life’s experiences.

For those seeking to deepen their leadership abilities and foster a healthier, more resilient organizational culture, embrace the maturity factor and surround yourself with emotionally mature individuals. For part three of this series about emotional maturity, you will learn about one particular group of individuals you want to be keenly aware of lurking in most groups and organizations. Please share this resource with others who are looking for similar answers!

Don’t forget to check out Big Mama’s Playbook featuring this week’s grant listings!

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Weekly wisdom in their own words:

“Maturity is when you stop being surprised by anything. Wisdom is when you start again.”

- Maxime Lagacé (January 12, 1993 -)