Once an industry culture becomes seriously contaminated, it may affect many companies as people move to others within the same industry. In a very tight employment market as we have now, many people will refuse to work in the less healthy corporate cultures. The result is that only those who tolerate them will stay and people who are aware of the difference will not accept a job with companies that do not treat people well. Eventually, companies that cannot find qualified employees will either change or suffer the consequences. Leadership is now a popular term, moving from the theme of 'management' practices as the success factor in the 1950's and 1960's.
Good leaders can often manage and good managers can often lead.
However, a good manager is not necessarily a good leader, nor is a good leader necessarily a good manager. Corporate culture is highly influenced by the individual personality styles of the company founders in the early stages. Later stages are defined by the executive management team. . Where many of the top management come from the same company or the same industry, they unconsciously bring that old culture to a new company they start. Understanding a company culture, particularly when entering as a new employee or working as a consultant can be the difference between success and failure in that environment.