There is something revealing about summer. Not because anything dramatic happens – but because what is normally hidden beneath the daily pace suddenly becomes visible.
That is my experience, at least.
When the structure disappears, the culture shows up
For the rest of the year, a great deal is held together by routines, meetings, and the presence of those who set the tone. The manager is around. Expectations are clear. The pace keeps people moving.
In summer, much of that disappears. People are away in shifts. Decision-making becomes unclear. No one quite knows who owns what right now.
What I have seen is that this is precisely when the real culture reveals itself. Not the one on the website or presented at the last kick-off – but the one that actually lives inside the organization.
What I tend to look at
How is absence and coverage handled – is helping each other out a given, or does friction appear immediately? How do people communicate when the manager is not around – do they make their own decisions or wait for someone to tell them what to do? How are the people who stay and work while half the office is on holiday feeling – is there a sense of unfairness, or is it something everyone accepts?
None of those questions has a right or wrong answer. But the answers say something about how the organization actually functions – and what may need to be addressed when autumn comes.
Summer as a mirror
I often tell the managers I work with that summer is one of the best opportunities of the year for reflection – not just to recharge, but to see the business from a slight distance. What worked? What creaked? Where did problems arise - and why?
Those answers are valuable. And they are easier to see when you are not right in the middle of it.
Autumn is a natural moment to address what summer revealed. In my experience, the companies that do this – that actually pause and reflect – are better positioned for their next phase of growth.
If you have thoughts, questions, or simply want to talk something through – feel free to get in touch. I am happy to have an initial conversation with no agenda.
Magdalena Hagström Ståhl
By M Consulting
Right person. Right place. Everything changes.