Most business leaders talk about having a great culture, but very few actually do anything about it.
Culture is not a fancy slogan or a colourful poster on the wall. It is how people work every day. If your culture is weak, your results will suffer. If your culture is strong, your business will grow. Here is a step-by-step plan the Summit Consulting culture team recommends to fix your workplace culture starting January 2025.
1. January - March: Be honest about where you are. Start with a serious culture check. Look at your team: Are the leaders aligned? Are employees motivated, or are they just showing up for the paycheck? If your team is confused or disengaged, your culture is broken. Take Safaricom as an example. Before launching M-Pesa, they realized their systems were slow and full of roadblocks. They streamlined operations and focused on solving customer problems. That focus created a service that transformed how East Africans handle money.
Your first step is to clean up the mess. What is your current culture?
2. April - June: Focus on actions, not words. Many businesses write down big values like “teamwork” and “excellence,” but nobody knows what they mean. Instead, pick clear behaviours. For example, if you are in logistics, say, “Deliver every order on time, no excuses.” Teach your managers to give feedback immediately and not wait for annual reviews. Reviews are slow and outdated. Also, fix your tools and systems. If employees waste time on bad processes, they will never perform well.
Look at KCB Bank in Kenya. They went digital, made processes simple, and stayed ahead of the competition.
3. July - September: Make culture part of every day. A great culture doesn’t happen once a year; it’s built into daily work. For example, Equity Bank in Uganda holds weekly team meetings to share wins and fix issues. This keeps everyone focused on customers. Also, give your employees the tools to grow. When people learn new skills, they stay motivated. Finally, measure your progress. Don’t waste time on vague metrics track real improvements like fewer customer complaints, faster delivery times, or better employee retention.
4. October - December: Adjust and improve. Your culture is always changing, so you need to keep improving it. Use quick surveys to get honest feedback from employees. Find out what’s working and what isn’t. Andela did this and discovered they needed to do more than outsource talent they also started building teams that work directly with clients. Hold your leaders accountable too. If leaders don’t set a good example, no one will follow. At Kilimanjaro Fresh in Tanzania, holding leaders accountable improved farming practices and profits.
This is how you build a workplace that works. East Africa is changing fast, and if your culture isn’t strong, you will be left behind. Fixing your culture in 2025 isn’t just a nice idea it’s how you stay in the game. Are you ready to lead the change, or will you let another year slip by?
What do you think? Share your ideas or success stories below. Let’s start building better workplaces. In the next article, find our recommended reads for a fantastic 2025. Do not have softcopies, visit the Summit Consulting forum and request the book on the forum. You will receive it via dm.
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“Leadership isn’t about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge.”, Simon Sinek
