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# Don't worry about your culture
- URL: https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/dont-worry-about-your-culture/
- Published: 2024-01-24T21:09:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-20T10:08:59.000Z
- Description: Here's what you should be worrying about instead.
- Author: Alicia McKay
- Tags: Systems, #wednesday-wisdom, Strategy, Leadership

I hear a lot about organisational culture. It’s pretty trendy, and seems to be blamed for a full spectrum of ills at work. Makes sense, it’s nice and easy to point the finger at – “it’s just the culture around here.” 

It’s also not useful, because it makes whatever we’re talking about – lack of progress, hesitance to take risks, dysfunctional leadership - a nebulous, unsolvable problem without clear accountability. Here’s my take on culture: it’s a higher order need, and mostly an output.

## Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f6/ea/f6eacf9c-bf08-4a3e-b200-2a209bebe3ad/content/images/2026/07/image-9.png)

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Most of you will be familiar with *Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs*, and the ascension of needs from basic to self-fulfilment. The idea is that you can’t start tinkering at the top unless the basics are taken care of. 

## McKay's Hierarchy of Organisational Needs

I reckon organisational culture is a bit like self-actualisation. Here’s *McKay's Hierarchy of Organisational Needs.*

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f6/ea/f6eacf9c-bf08-4a3e-b200-2a209bebe3ad/content/images/2026/07/McKay-s-Hierarchy-of-Needs.png)

McKay's Hierarchy of Organisational Needs

The evidence supports this, particularly when it comes to [public service transformation](https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/strategy/change/culture-public-services-report?ref=aliciamckay.co.nz). While service transformation is unlikely without culture change, the heart of culture change is *organisational development* and *leadership development*. Makes sense.  
  
My take: Clarify your direction, align your systems, equip your leaders, build your capability, get your people in the right place (preferably in that order, or thereabouts)….. and then see where your culture’s at.