Have you ever wondered what would happen if you weren’t around?

Written by Tyler Head

Yvonne Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, once said, “I wanted to build a company where when I left, my people would know who to call when there was a fire: the fire department.” He spent three months away each year, confident in his team’s ability to handle things. 

Culture is the pattern of behavior reinforced by people and systems over time, as noted by Charles O’Reilly, an expert in Organizational Behavior at Stanford and several other prestigious universities. 

What type of culture supports leaving for three months out of the year?

In leadership, we can learn a lot from the scientific method: 

Observation – closely examining what, why, and how things happen. 

Questioning – engaging curiously and exploring possibilities. 

Hypothesizing – thinking critically about potential solutions. 

Experimenting – trying new approaches. 

Analyzing – objectively assessing outcomes. 

Concluding – building on findings. 

Repeating – acknowledging the power of practice.

This approach allows leaders to invite their team into the process and challenge entrenched behaviors and systems. 

A scientific approach encourages collaboration and innovation and fosters a culture where leaders and teams are confident when they step away. 

Culture is key to the longevity of your organization. 

Ask yourself these questions: 

What patterns of behavior are being reinforced by people and systems inside your organization?

What patterns of behavior do you notice that need to change? 

What systems and people can help you do so?