How Leaders’ Decisions Influence Organizational Culture: with Tom Krause

In this episode of The Leadership Code Podcast, host Fred Gatty sits down with world-renowned leadership and culture expert Dr. Thomas R. Krause to explore how leaders’ decisions—both big and small—shape organizational culture, often without them even realizing it.

Drawing on decades of experience in behavioral science and leadership consulting, Dr. Krause explains why up to 70% of workplace culture is directly influenced by leadership behaviors (Harvard Business Review, 2018). He shares real-world examples of how leadership decisions—whether in communication, risk-taking, or crisis management—can either reinforce or undermine a company’s values and long-term success.

Key topics discussed in this episode include:

The unseen impact of leadership decisions on culture

Common blind spots leaders have when shaping workplace behavior

How small, everyday choices can create a ripple effect throughout an organization

The role of trust, psychological safety, and accountability in a healthy culture

How organizations can measure and sustain meaningful culture change

Dr. Krause also shares insights from his latest book, If Your Culture Could Talk – A Story About Culture Change, offering practical strategies for leaders who want to align their decision-making with the culture they aspire to create.

Whether you’re a senior executive, team leader, or aspiring change maker, this episode will challenge you to rethink how your actions influence those around you—and what steps you can take to build a culture of trust, engagement, and excellence.

Listen now to learn how leadership decisions shape the DNA of an organization!