05/26/2026
Most organizations are not broken. They are stuck.
They have good people. They have individuals who care deeply about the Mission and want to build something meaningful. But those people are isolated, and that isolation is the defining characteristic of what I call a Points of Light Culture.
In We're All In, I describe this as Level 3 in the five-level culture hierarchy. A few individuals genuinely align with the organization's values, but most are simply doing their jobs and performing the associated tasks. The light is real. It just is not strong enough yet to define the whole organization.
The tension at this level is constant. The people who want more are pushing forward. The culture quietly pulls them back. And over time, the culture usually wins. Your best people leave, not because they lack commitment, but because the organization never fully commits to them. They are given just enough opportunity to stay engaged, but not enough to stay invested.
If you are leading at this level, the answer is not to find better people. You likely already have them. The answer is to build an environment where the people you have can consistently perform at their best. That starts with a clear Mission your team genuinely believes in, continues with the trust and empowerment to act on it, and requires the discipline to follow through when the pressure is on.
The opportunity is real. So is the cost of waiting.
Have you ever led or worked in a Points of Light Culture? I'd love to hear what you observed. Drop a comment below and let's talk about it.
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Enjoy the journey!
