In the spirit of continuous improvement, I spent the last month reviewing client data to identify valuable trends and patterns across organizational cultures.

We design solutions to improve organizational performance by promoting alignment, belonging, and collaboration.

That process always starts with a custom data assessment.

We uncover exciting stories woven into the data gathered through these assessments daily.

While analyzing trends, the great Octavia Butler’s¹ words keep coming to mind…

I recently spoke with Lynell George, author of A Handful of Earth, A Handful of Sky: The World of Octavia E. Butler”.

Learning more about Octavia Butler outside of her writing was a joy. 

One of my most significant takeaways was the importance of Butler’s habits. By building and maintaining intentional habits, she transformed her life.

These habits included structured reflection, making space for activities outside her “work,” confronting inner challenges, and embracing change. 

Similar habits exist within organizations with thriving cultures, but are far less common in organizations experiencing cultural challenges.

Here are four ways Octavia’s habits can help your organizational culture today:

Butler held on to a vision of herself as a best-selling author. She was so committed to this vision that she repeatedly wrote, “I am a bestselling writer,” in her journals. With her sights set on this dream, this vision shaped her behavior. 

Organizations with thriving cultures consistently reflect on their direction and course. They revisit their vision, goals, and strategic plans repeatedly. They take stock, allowing intentional moments to pause and reflect on what’s working and what’s not.

These habits ensure that the vision, goals, and strategic plan shape organizational rituals, policies, and practices. These organizations tend to rate higher employees who feel a sense of clarity in their roles and trust in their leadership.

Octavia Butler set time aside for intentional rest while building her big dreams. She interrupted weeks of busyness with part-time jobs and writing with walks, hikes, and time with friends.  

The worst cultures suffer from a perceived scarcity of time or resources, which blocks their ability to make space for the things that matter most, like relationship building. 

When we carve out time for intentional relationship building, we see increased innovation, decreased burnout, and easier decision-making processes.

Like many of us, Octavia Butler had an inner critic. The voice of her inner critic challenged her sense of self and the confidence she needed to write. 

She identified and addressed her internal critic when it arose, adopting a habit of writing affirmations to herself. 

Challenges are inevitable within organizations. It’s not a matter of if they will come up, but when they will come up and how we respond. 

Many organizations fear exploring issues that may be uncomfortable. These organizations are more likely to repeat mistakes. 

We address these organizations by building brave cultures that increase the capacity to have challenging discussions. These discussions increase measures of innovation, psychological safety, and belonging. 

Butler is most known for her words, “All that you touch, you change. All that changes, changes you. The only lasting truth is change”.

Groups thrive when they are just as committed to the process as to the product. Such organizations commit to recognizing change, good or bad, as it occurs. They are more likely to be comfortable, confident, and capable of addressing needs. These organizations tend to have braver cultures and lower rates of burnout.

There are many gems to be found in Octavia Butler’s approach.

Her life exemplifies the importance of adopting intentional habits to achieve one's goals, vision, and dreams.

Here are some questions to help you reflect:

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