In addition to coaching business owners and leadership teams across the country, I raise grass-fed beef. And if there’s one thing ranching teaches you quickly, it’s this: weeds are the enemy.

But here’s the twist—when it comes to managing weeds, the best strategy isn’t to focus on what you don’t want. It’s to double down on what you do want: great grass.

The same principle applies to business culture.

Weeds in the Pasture—and in the Office

On the ranch, the cows have one job: eat grass and turn it into beef. The better the grass, the better they perform. But when weeds creep in, they start to choke out the good grass. At first, it’s subtle. You don’t notice the drop in production right away. But eventually, the cows will do whatever it takes to find better pasture—even crossing an electric fence to get to greener grass.

Sound familiar?

In business, cultural “weeds” can quietly take root and spread. They may not seem like a big deal at first. But over time, they reduce productivity, lower morale, and drive your best people to look elsewhere.

Why Culture Needs Cultivation

Sure, you can try to control weeds with chemicals or mowing. But those methods are costly, time-consuming, and often come with side effects. The better approach? Cultivate thick, healthy grass that naturally suppresses weeds.

In business, that means building a strong, intentional culture—one that leaves no room for toxic behaviors or misaligned mindsets to grow.

Beware the Attractive Weed

Not all weeds look like trouble. Take the Canadian Thistle—it has a beautiful purple bloom. When there’s just one, it’s tempting to leave it alone. But left unchecked, it spreads fast and chokes out everything around it.

In business, that “attractive weed” might be the employee with deep tribal knowledge, a strong client following, or a unique skill set. But if their attitude or behavior undermines the team, they’ll slow everyone else down—and eventually drive away the people you most want to keep.

They’ll head for greener pastures.

How to Grow a Healthy Culture

So how do you cultivate the kind of culture that chokes out the weeds?

1. Start with the result. What do you want your culture to produce? Define it clearly.
2. Identify the mindset that supports that result. What attitudes, behaviors, and values will get you there?
3. Talk about it constantly. Culture isn’t built in a day—it’s reinforced daily through conversations, coaching, and recognition.
4. Feed it. Invest in training, feedback, and rewards that reinforce the mindset you want.
5. Cut the weeds. When negative behaviors show up, address them quickly. Coach when possible. Remove when necessary.

For example, one of my clients recently determined that the result they want from their culture mission is to “Create a Meaningful Wave.” This is their Mission and they’ve defined the Mindset (thinking and behaviors) that supports the mission. They hire people who are excited about that mission, and they cultivate it relentlessly with feedback, recognition, and performance coaching. If someone turns out to be a weed, the culture either changes them—or weeds them out.

Final Thought

Like a pasture, your culture is always growing something. If you’re not actively cultivating what you want, what you don’t want will take root.

So focus on the grass. Grow what you want. And let the culture do the weeding for you.