When leaders talk about the culture of their organization, is it more important to be aspirational… or honest? By aspirational, I mean to talk about your culture in terms of what you want, or hope it will be at some point in the future.

Some observers say that the current state of a culture is difficult to assess. There are many different opinions, functions, levels and geographies to assess. You can utilize surveys, but it’s easy to let bias creep into the process and ask questions that reinforce outcomes you wish to see.

I’d argue that honesty is always the best policy. Your culture can be anything you choose: aggressive, innovative, collaborative and/or other attributes. It’s almost always more efficient and compassionate to be candid about the types of behaviors that are valued; doing so saves time and effort and eliminates unhelpful surprises. If your organization rewards working 6-7 days a week, say so. In a similar manner, if you really do wish to cultivate a true meritocracy, be honest and open about that.