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Sinking morale. Low productivity. Lots of gossip. Quiet quitting. Sloppy work. Cynicism. Talent leaving. These are all examples of culture rot: the slow, subtle unraveling of what made a good company good. You can feel it before you can name it, Tara Kermiet, a corporate burnout strategist, explained in a recent TikTok post. Its less about one big event, and more about the daily drift that no one claims responsibility for. Instead of some big scandal or massive profit loss, culture rot is the gradual, subtle decay of a teams culture. Its fueled by bad, unaccountable leaders, and is characterized as a slow straying from original core company values. Your core mission may become unclear, communication breaks down, deadlines get missed. People get disengaged, processes fail and then suddenly, everyones in self-protection mode, Kermiet says. The term culture rot has recently been trending in other areas, such as branding, design, and creativity. Now, the term has started popping up in ways that it relates to the workplace, being discussed in places like HR publications and lifestyle publications. Alongside other issues like burnout, quiet cracking, and toxic workplaces, culture rot could well be just a handful of the factors driving all sorts of negative consequences in the workplace. According to the latest Gallup State of the Global Workplace report, the global number of engaged employees was just 21% in 2024; Gallup also estimates that low employee engagement cost the world economy $438 billion last year. In the case of culture rot, one of the main causes is a slow abandonment of the companys stated values. Its all well and good establishing your companys values early on, but without regularly revisiting and reinforcing them, it becomes mere grandstanding. (Sadly, one could argue that, these days, culture rot is inevitable; research shows that only 26% of U.S. employees strongly agree their company always delivers on its promises.) Having a thriving company culture, and thus avoiding team-wrecking rot, is crucial for retention. After all, those who feel strongly connected to their workplaces culture are 47% percent less likely to be on the lookout for other opportunities. Theyre also more than five times as likely to recommend their company to others as a great place to work. Plus, company culture is closely tied to team productivity, with one Oxford University study finding that workers are 13% more productive when happy. There are ways to prevent culture rot. In her TikTok, Kermiet says leaders should be sharing what healthy behavior looks like, and what wont fly, and that leaders look at their own habits: Are you following through when you say you will? She also recommends being visible and asking folks questions on a regular basisculture rot happens slowly and daily, so carefully tending to your teams culture bit by bit each day nips the rot in the bud. Culture takes cues from the leaders, Kermiet says in her post. Every action you take either reinforces trust or erodes it. If your churn rate is unusually high, and productivity levels low, your company culture has likely been rotting for some time. Its time to cut away the infected areas and reestablish values, beliefs and behaviors from the inside out, before it’s too late. Its worth it. After all, workers who feel strongly connected to their companys culture are more than four times more likely to be engaged at work, according to Gallup.
Category:
E-Commerce
A decade ago, I spearheaded my organizations strategic expansion into a new Eurasian market. Almost immediately, it became evident that our conventional playbook was inadequate. Success in this complex landscape required not just an understanding of business metrics, but a profound appreciation for cultural nuances and regional dynamics. We made a pivotal decision: We set aside our polished PowerPoint presentations and embraced a more human-centric approach. Instead of relying on formalities, we engaged in candid, face-to-face negotiationsoften over a steaming cup of tea. This deliberate shift in strategy was about building genuine relationships, and it worked. By prioritizing trust and open dialogue, we laid the groundwork for a partnership that has not only endured, but flourished. In my own career, shaped through roles at worldadmired organizations like American Express and Amazon, Ive come to rely on five core leadership traits that have consistently driven results, built strong cultures and turned ambiguity into opportunity. And as a leadership advisor at one of the worlds preeminent executive leadership advisory firms, Egon Zehnder, Ive seen those same five core qualities distinguish transformational leaders across industries. No one embodies these five traits perfectly every day. But the most effective leaders Ive worked withand aspired to be likeare the ones who commit to practicing and developing these traits over time. 1. Emotional Intelligence and Empathy Great leaders dont just manage work: They read the room. Emotional intelligence (EQ) enables leaders to pick up on unspoken cues, navigate tense conversations, and build authentic relationships grounded in trust. Why it matters People dont perform at their best when they feel overlooked or undervalued. EQ creates psychological safety, which is the foundation of innovation, collaboration and accountability. Leaders who lead with empathy foster a culture of trust, empowering their teams to innovate and thrive in an increasingly complex world. How to build it Ask deeper questions. Go beyond How are you? to Whats been challenging for you this week? Practice active listening. Resist the urge to fix. Instead, reflect back what youre hearing. Build self-awareness. After difficult conversations, debrief with yourself or a mentor: What triggered you? How did you respond? 2. Visionary strategic thinking Leadership is about more than keeping the lights on. Its about illuminating the path ahead. That means developing a compelling vision of the future. Why it matters In uncertain times, people crave clarity. Vision helps clarify priorities, aligns distributed teams, and keeps momentum focused on long-term impact, even when the short term gets messy. How to build it Clarify your why. Whats the deeper purpose behind your work? Write it down and revisit it often. Connect the dots. Help your team see how their work ladders up to something bigger. Invite co-creation. Encourage your team to challenge, refine, and evolve the vision with you. 3. Integrity and decisive accountability Integrity isnt just a personal virtueits a leadership imperative. Do what you say, say what you mean, and own what happens after. Why it matters When your words and actions align, people trust you. When you take responsibility, even when its uncomfortable, it encourages others to do the same. That creates an environment where issues surface early, feedback flows freely, and people feel safe taking thoughtful risks. How to build it Be transparent. Explain the rationale behind decisions, especially when theyre difficult. Own mistakes publicly. When things go sideways, share what you learned and what youll do differently. Set the tone. Recognize and reward integrity in others, even when it comes at a short-term cost. 4. Curiosity and adaptability Curious leaders dont cling to old playbooks. They ask better questions, uncover hidden risks, and spot emerging opportunities. Why it matters Markets evolve. Technologies shift. Cultures vary. What worked yesterday may not work tomorrow. Curious leaders adapt faster because theyre more committed to learning than they are to being right. How to build it Ask What else could be true? when faced with a challenge. Experiment regularly. Try a new approach in a small, low-stakes area and reflect on the results. Cross-pollinate. Read outside your industry. Seek out conversations with people who think differently than you. Lead with questions. In meetings, replace Whats the answer? with What havent we considered yet? Why it stands out Curiosity unlocks everything else on this list. It deepens empathy. It expands strategic thinking. It keeps your integrity rooted in humility. And it allows you to empower others by showing that leadership isnt about having all the answers, its about never stopping the search. 5. Empowerment through inspiration and autonomy The best leaders multiply their impact by empowering others. They inspire and trust their teams to take ownership, delegate with intention, and develop people through stretch opportunities and support. Why it matters Micromanagement stifles growth. Empowerment boosts morale and creates space for innovation. It also signals that you believe in your teams potential, not just their current performance. How to build it Map out strengths. Understand what your team members are uniquely good at and where they want to grow. Delegate for development. Give stretch tasks that challenge and support long-term growth. Coach, dont rescue. When someones stuck, guide with questions, not quick fixes. Create feedback loops. Make check-ins about learning and support, not just status updates. Dont wait to start becoming the leader you want to be If youre reading this, heres my call to action for you: Start today. Pick one quality, commit to one behavior, and test its impact. Reflect, adjust, and let momentum build. Todays volatile business world needs leaders who can navigate uncertainty with a clear sense of direction and grounded values. As a leader, you have the power to elevate not just your career, but your people. Thats what distinguishes those who lead with impact from those who merely manage.
Category:
E-Commerce
AI isnt a cost-cutting tool. Its a revenue multiplier. Yet too many companies are stuck asking how AI can help them run leaner with fewer people, faster processes, lower costs. That question wont unlock exponential growth. The better one is: How can AI help us grow faster, sell more, and drive new revenue streams? Yes, cost savings will deliver marginal gains. But accelerated and/or new revenue unlocks step-change impact. If your AI doesnt show up in your P&L as higher conversion, more long-term value, and stronger monetization, then its not a strategy. Its just automation. THE REVENUE UNLOCK IS HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT AIs real power lies in how it transforms commercial outcomes. The highest-leverage applications arent about doing the same thing with fewer people. Theyre about doing new things better, faster, and more intelligently. Here are three high-impact areas where AI is already delivering commercial lift: Real-time relevance This application is where AI shines brightest, not just in showing the right product, but in reshaping the entire customer journey to determine what matters most to each individual consumer. By analyzing live signals around intent, recency, device, geography, and behavioral patterns, AI models can decide which action, message, or product is most relevant at any given moment. Instead of relying on static customer profiles, AI is powering dynamic prioritization based on signal density, predicted value, and likelihood to act. Checkout monetization Checkout has always been a critical moment of truth and AI turns it into a revenue engine. Instead of offering a static buy now, AI can dynamically surface relevant add-ons, bundles, warranties, or services tailored to that exact customer in that exact moment. Because this happens when intent is already high, even small improvements yield disproportionate gains. For many businesses, checkout is the single best opportunity to transform a transaction into a marketplace. Dynamic decisioning Unlike one-off campaigns or basic customer journeys, AI-driven decisioning runs continuously in the background, recalibrating in real time. It can adjust promotions, product recommendations, and retention strategies in response to evolving signals: a shift in behavior, market trends, or even an external event. Done right, dynamic decisioning maximizes lifetime value by ensuring that every customer interaction nudges someone toward deeper engagement and higher spend not once, but over time. Saks Global, Abound, and HelloFresh are just a few companies utilizing these applications in the real world with compelling results: Luxury retailer Saks Globals AI-curated homepages maximizes personalization to deliver a 7% lift in revenue per visitor and a nearly 10% boost in conversions. Abound, one of Londons fastest growing fintechs, sets itself apart from competitors by using AI-driven dynamic decisioning. It harnesses open banking insights instead of outdated credit scores and statistical averages. They have lent about $1 billion in the five years since it was founded in 2020. AI insights allow Abound to understand each borrowers unique financial profile with real-time financial data. This use of AI minimizes the companys default rates while allowing it to offer lower borrowing rates to consumers. Meal kit delivery company HelloFresh has been using AI and machine learning extensively across its business. One way its been driving revenue in the U.S. is with machine learning-powered personalization preferences, optimizing meal selection in real time based on behavior. In August 2025, the company announced a $70 million investment, partly to supercharge AI-driven personalized meal planning across its expanded menu to help customers navigate choices more intuitively. AI is so much more than an add-on or standalone feature. It should be thought of as a commercial operating system that is baked into every enterprises go-to-market strategy. However, to fully maximize a revenue-focused AI strategy, brands must undertake continuous testing, feedback loops, and optimization of customer touchpoints. The C-suite has a responsibility to reframe the way we think about AI. Boosting productivity is important, but AI strategies shouldnt just be about doing things cheaper. It should also be used to turbocharge growth and sell in entirely new ways. Using futuristic technology to do the same old same old, like reducing headcount to boost profits, is just a road to stagnation. Efficiency is expected. Its relevance that drives revenue. Saving money isnt a strategy. Creating value is. The companies that define the next decade wont be the leanest. Theyll be the most revenue-intelligent. Elizabeth Buchanan is chief commercial officer of Rokt.
Category:
E-Commerce
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