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September 28th, 2024

The Inconsistency Gap: Using Cultural Anthropology to Fix Workplace Trust | Kristine Gentry

"It is worse to be dishonest about what you value than to say nothing at all." Kristine Gentry joins Josh to explain why your "culture strategy" might be eroding employee trust. Using the lens of an anthropologist, Kristine identifies the "Trojan Horses" of corporate culture—like safety priorities that aren’t reflected in bonus structures or "wellness" initiatives that conflict with midnight emails.

Josh and Kristine dive into the data behind remote work and Mental Health, the power of the manager-employee relationship (which impacts Health as much as a spouse does), and why the most successful companies empower their frontline staff with simple, memorable values.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
✅ Workplace Ethnography: How to observe your team to find the gap between "Ideal" and "Real" culture.
✅ The 70% Statistic: Why your manager has a greater impact on your mental health than your salary or environment.
✅ The Bonus Bias: Why preaching safety while incentivizing production speed creates a culture of distrust.
✅ Remote Work Dynamics: Navigating the "always-on" culture and the importance of time-released communication.
✅ The Sister Principle: How Kendra Scott and the Ritz-Carlton use simple values to empower frontline decision-making.
✅ Culture vs. Strategy: Why "putting out fires" is often a symptom of a neglected cultural foundation.
✅ The Google Cautionary Tale: How surface-level perks (like hotel rooms on campus) can signal a culture that discourages life outside of work.

🔗 Connect with Kristine Gentry:
Instagram at @kristinegentry
Her company, Culture Grove, at: https://www.culturegrove.com/

📬 Contact Josh: [email protected]
📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters

Artwork by: Adam Powell
Music: bensound.com
License code: ZSJMVHBWFBMDCOCN

#LeadershipInQuarters #KristineGentry #CulturalAnthropology #WorkplaceCulture #Ethnography #MentalHealthAtWork #LeadByExample #LeadershipTrust #JoshSeldin

Josh Seldin Director of Manufacturing Initiatives | Author | Speaker | Podcast Host | Builder of Culture and High Performance Leaders | Ally

Josh Seldin is a seasoned Director of Manufacturing at a Fortune 50 company, with deep expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, and maintenance systems. With a proven track record of operational excellence, Josh brings not only technical mastery but also a human-centered leadership philosophy to every environment he leads.

He is the author of Constructing a Healthy Culture and the host of the podcast Leadership in Quarters, where he explores the intersection of leadership, culture, and operational performance. Josh has a deep passion for building workplace cultures where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to bring their best selves to work every day.

At the core of Josh’s leadership approach is a commitment to developing leaders—both emerging and experienced—who can coach effectively, build trust, and lead with empathy. His focus is on cultivating psychologically safe environments, enhancing communication, and fostering inclusion across all levels of an organization.