Create the Culture You Want with Dr. Karalee Picard
Andrea hosts Dr. Karalee Picard, an expert in organizational and leadership dynamics with a background in defense intelligence, on the Voice of Influence podcast. In this episode, Karalee discusses the importance of creating workplace cultures where every voice is heard, a topic she explores in her upcoming book, ‘Stand Up. Don’t Stand Alone.’ They delve into Picard’s experiences in the Navy and US Strategic Command, highlighting the necessity of holding each other accountable and fostering open communication.
Karalee shares insights from her workshops designed to build culture from the bottom up and the challenges of implementing such initiatives in bureaucratic environments. The conversation also touches on the resistance to change, the role of middle managers, and the importance of adapting organizational cultures to accommodate new team members.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:04 Karalee’s Background and Book Overview
03:53 Insights from Bureaucratic Experience
05:43 Understanding Organizational Culture
11:42 Implementing Culture Change
16:02 Creating Champions and Overcoming Resistance
30:57 Tailoring Culture to Teams
36:04 Final Thoughts and Book Information
Mentioned in this Episode:
Summary
Workplace culture isn’t just an abstract concept—it’s the foundation of innovation, psychological safety, and overall organizational success. Dr. Karalee Picard, a seasoned leadership expert with a background in defense intelligence, joined the Voice of Influence podcast to discuss how leaders can shape cultures that foster accountability, inclusivity, and true teamwork.
With a career spanning the Navy, the Department of Defense, and leadership coaching, Dr. Picard has seen firsthand the impact of both toxic and thriving work environments. Her new book, Stand Up, Don’t Stand Alone, offers a roadmap for organizations to build cultures where every voice matters and every action counts.
The Hidden Layers of Workplace Culture
Dr. Picard explains that culture isn’t just about mission statements or leadership structures—it exists on multiple levels, much of it invisible to the untrained eye.
“What we see on a website—the mission, vision, and values—is just the surface,” she shares. “Underneath, you have leadership behaviors, communication styles, and informal power structures that shape how things actually get done.”
She introduces the concept of the banyan tree as a metaphor for workplace culture—deeply rooted, interconnected, and far-reaching. Understanding these hidden layers is key to making real, lasting change.
Building a Culture of Accountability
Through her research and workshops, Dr. Picard has found that thriving workplaces actively address accountability and feedback.
“When teams openly discuss how they will hold each other accountable and receive feedback, the culture improves,” she explains. “But when these conversations don’t happen, bad behaviors persist, and dysfunction takes root.”
One challenge she has encountered is that managers often hesitate to dedicate time to culture-building, viewing it as secondary to daily tasks. But, as she points out, a strong culture drives engagement, innovation, and even financial success.
Leadership Beyond the Org Chart
In hierarchical organizations like the military, leadership is often defined by rank. However, Dr. Picard warns that true power dynamics often operate beneath the surface.
“There’s always an informal structure that leaders may not see,” she says. “Certain individuals hold influence over decisions, who gets invited to meetings, and what actually changes. If leaders ignore this, they risk making superficial changes that don’t stick.”
She highlights the importance of creating cross-sectional leadership teams—employees from all levels who understand the leader’s vision and can advocate for it throughout the organization. This approach ensures that change doesn’t disappear when leadership turns over.
A Call for Proactive Leadership
Dr. Picard’s work is a call to action for leaders to move beyond reactive problem-solving and take a proactive approach to culture-building.
“We can avoid legal battles, workplace toxicity, and disengagement simply by doing the work upfront,” she urges. “When leaders invest in building strong teams and fostering trust, everyone benefits.”
Her insights challenge us to rethink leadership—not just as decision-making from the top but as a continuous, organization-wide effort to create workplaces where people thrive.
Listen to the full episode for more on building cultures of accountability and trust.
#Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #Accountability #PsychologicalSafety #VoiceOfInfluence
Give great, effective feedback!
This show is brought to you by the Deep Impact Method free course. Handle problems and present changes with care and influence. Register for the free 30-minute course here.