Culture Change and Wallpaper!

In my book, From a Mended Heart, I explain that during my first month as Dean of the Kentucky College of Optometry I spent my nights removing wallpaper from the old house we purchased. I say that the process of removing wallpaper was both therapeutic and emblematic of the issues that I was facing with culture changes at the college.

Removing wallpaper is therapeutic

Why? Well, I'd argue that this process takes a bit of concentration, focus and physical exertion. These are all good things when your mind is racing with all of the challenges you may be facing in a new position. Laying in bed each night and letting your mind wander is not healthy. We all need sleep and this is not the way to get it. So, doing something physical, like taking down wallpaper, helps keep you focused on a different task. Also, as you progress with wallpaper removal, you see progress. Each time you finish a room or wall or even just one strip is a reason to celebrate a bit and feel happy about the progress you are making. When overwhelmed with big tasks, celebrating small victories is critical.

Removing wallpaper is emblematic

My technique for removing wallpaper involves several steps. The first is to create a solution of 1-part fabric softener and 4-parts water in a spray bottle. Let's think of the fabric softener as kindness while the water represents hard work. This concentration of solution works well in softening the hard to penetrate outer layer of wallpaper. Could this mix of qualities also soften people's attitudes in a negative work environment? I think so! Kindness goes a long way towards getting people to buy into your goals, but it must be backed up with hard work.

Spray this special mixture onto the wallpaper liberally. Let is soak in. This top layer of wallpaper represents all of your employees, so start peeling at a place on the wallpaper that you find a loose spot or along a seam. Just like looking for new strategic partners in your work environment, start where it is easiest. Once the fabric softener has begun to sink-in a bit, you'll be able to start peeling the top layer off of the wallpaper. Do this slowly and carefully starting from the top down. Keep spraying and spreading kindness. Once you get good at this, you can attempt to peel off larger and larger pieces. Go slow and steady. Much like leading change, you will get better at this over time.

What remains on the wall after you are able to fully remove this top layer is the glue backing of the wallpaper. This stuff is really stuck to the wall. This layer represents the resistant group of individuals within your organization that continue to be resistant to change. How do you proceed? The technique is simple - keep spraying the fabric softener onto the glue backing. Keep demonstrating kindness and hard work to those most resistant employees. In fact, you must soak them fully with this special mixture in this step. Do not attempt to tear any of the glue backing down until all of it is fully soaked. Attempting to peel it off too early will result in small shards of glue coming down and the rest still stuck on the wall. Have patience and wait until the backing is fully soaked before slowly peeling back this final layer. It is very satisfying to see this last layer come down in a big sheet. Culture change happens in this same way. Once it has been full soaked, the resistance stops and real change happens.

Culture change is a slow and tedious process, but with time and concentration, it will work. Each day, soak the wallpaper with more kindness and hope until is starts peeling down in large sheets. The end results of this process are revealed little by little, but they pick up speed as you get better with the process.

You can make a culture change within a toxic organization, but it takes time, patience, technique, hard work, kindness, and some fabric softener!