Staffing challenges are hitting every corner of the arts sector right now. Leaders are struggling to keep experienced people in critical roles; or to fill those roles at all.The talent pool is thinner, turnover is higher, and even when someone promising is hired, they often lack the training or support needed to quickly succeed in a complex and fast-paced environment.
But there’s another element, just as vital as capability and capacity, that often gets overlooked in a crisis: culture.
Behind every successful subscription campaign, loyalty strategy, or fundraising initiative is a team that knows how to execute. But your challenge as an executive is not just to teach them how to do the job technically, but you must get them to understand the job culturally too. Increasingly, what's missing is a shared understanding of how to work; how we do thing here.
Too few teams have a crystal clear standard for service, accountability, responsiveness, and care. Yet how your staff embodies your organization’s culture is the bedrock of long-term success. The way your staff embodies the organizational culture is the foundation on which your long-term success is built.
In the latest episode of TRG's Leading the Way series, CEO Jill Robinson sat down with best-selling author and marketing visionary Seth Godin to explore the truth:
People do their best work when they understand expectations and choose to align with them.
The receptionist didn’t just check people in, she truly received them, making each visitor feel seen and welcomed. Meetings went better because she cared enough to improve reception, not just do her job.
Culture isn’t about your job title. It’s about how you show up, and whether you believe the work matters.
In today's lean staffing environment, the idea of hiring carefully - or letting of on someone misaligned - can feel impossible, risky or unthinkable. But inconsistent or misaligned staff don't just slow operations; they erode trust with your audiences and supporters.
Every person on your team shapes how your organization shows up in the world.
That’s why leadership must be intentional; not just about what you’re trying to achieve, but how you expect your team to work together to get there. Cultural clarity is more urgent than ever.
Many arts organizations are still operating in crisis mode, patching holes in the team and hoping for the best. But without a clear framework for “how we do things around here” (and the training to support those expectations) even experienced teams struggle to deliver consistent results.
At TRG, we’re working with organizations to rebuild that strategic foundation by what really matters: Recency, Demand, People and Discipline.
We help new and well-established teams learn the fundamentals of loyalty, segmentation, and data-driven decision-making. We coach leaders to build environments where people feel both supported and accountable. And we instill discipline into campaigns, strategies and budget planning so that even understaffed teams move forward with clarity or purpose.
We also know the arts sector is full of people who care deeply. When those people are aligned behind a clear direction and trained to deliver on it, incredible things happen.
If your team needs that kind of support, we’re ready to help.
For a deeper look at how strategy, purpose, and practical leadership come together in today’s arts sector, watch the full conversation between Jill Robinson and Seth Godin here.