Seeds of Culture: Improve Organizational Performance by Growing a Culture of Commitment

This book is a critical reminder for leaders and executives. No matter how much you may want to, you can’t “build” strong organizational cultures on your own. Instead, you must plant the seeds of culture and tend to them day in and day out for a culture of commitment to grow organically. There is no shortcut, but Seeds of Culture shows a practical path to long-term culture growth for those ready to seriously commit to the journey.

I’ve had the pleasure of reading this truly helpful, thoughtful book on the best way create the kind of environment that makes people feel like they never want to leave. Dan Bredeson uses his upbringing as a farm kid from Wisconsin to unveil how culture in any organization shouldn’t be built but GROWN. Like seeds planted and nurtured from soil to yield, a productive organization can learn to grow the sort of culture that supports team members and makes their loyalty a coveted and well earned result. Anyone who leads others should grab this book immediately, because it will help.

In Dan’s first book he nails a leadership micro-subject better than I could have imagined. He likens developing a great culture to planting a seed. And he should know. He’s planted many. From his decades of experience Dan understands that muscling the numbers doesn’t work for long or at all. A must read book for this topic!

Coming from a primarily non-profit background, I found the principles explored in this book to be applicable across a number of industries and organizational structures. Most leaders have a lot of ideas of what they would like to see accomplished in their organization but few understand the magnitude of how organizational culture impacts their effectiveness in accomplishing those goals. This book gives a user-friendly framework for understanding both the significance of company culture as well as how to cultivate it into something that perpetually builds itself up. Bredeson blends a conversational tone with meaningful insight. The book provides both a bird’s eye view along with the nitty gritty of how to be intentional, one decision at a time. I recommend it to anyone looking for practical clarity on cultivating and maintaining healthy organizational culture.

“Embrace the light that shines on everything you do because culture isn’t a mushroom; it doesn’t grow in the dark.” Loved reading this great book that uses farming as analogous to building and fostering a positive culture at an organization. Dan deftly weaves in personal anecdotes about growing up on a farm, using easily relatable metaphors – even if you didn’t grow up on a farm. The writing style is accessible and conversational – not a lecture or overly academic. Throughout the book, Dan provides powerful insights and reminders of the power of culture and the risks of getting it wrong. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for a new way to think about leaders in the context of organizational culture, and certainly anyone who wants to be a part of a positive one.

Dan uses his personal experience and an identifiable metaphor to cultivate an accessible organizational culture of growth! The examples offered are helpful indicators of how organizational leaders can support their members. It’s a refreshing read!-Megan Lambertz-Berndt

It was an absolute pleasure to read and enjoy this book. The author doesn’t take himself too seriously – there are funny anecdotes throughout and little asides that give the reader a glimpse into his personality while learning from his insights.I have already incorporated many of the principles outlined in this book and plan to go back for more. A great read and an excellent guidebook for leaders and new professionals alike.