Have you ever smelled something off—something funky, even disgusting—but couldn’t quite figure out where it was coming from? I think we’ve all experienced this at home or wherever we’ve lived. There’s nothing worse than waking up to the smell of something truly repulsive lingering in the air. You didn’t notice it when you went to bed, but by morning, the entire house is engulfed in the stench. It’s distracting, disorienting, and frankly, hard to ignore.
That was me the other morning. I came downstairs and was immediately hit with a wave of something awful. I went into full investigation mode, sniffing around like a detective on a mission. I thought maybe it was a takeout container from the night before—but that was a false alarm. After a bit of searching, I discovered a small bag in the trash can that seemed to be the culprit. I removed it and figured that would solve the problem.
But here’s the thing: the smell didn’t go away.
So I had to take things further. I started checking everything—the garbage disposal, the fridge, the pantry (because, let’s be honest, one rogue potato can ruin your week). Finally, I found it: a small, forgotten container with less than a handful of broccoli tucked behind something in the fridge. It was tiny, seemingly insignificant, but it had completely taken over the atmosphere of my home.
And there’s a powerful leadership message in that.
Every organization has a culture. And every culture has an “aroma”—a kind of energetic scent that people feel when they walk into the space, join a team meeting, or talk to a colleague. When culture is healthy, that aroma is fresh, welcoming, and energizing. But when culture is neglected—or worse, when toxic behaviors go unchecked—that once fresh scent turns sour.
Sometimes, like that small piece of broccoli, it’s not something obvious. It’s not a major event, but rather a tiny behavior, a whispered comment, a look, a miscommunication, or a piece of unspoken tension that gets buried… and begins to rot.
If you’re in a leadership role and something starts to smell off—whether it’s rising conflict, decreased morale, avoidance behaviors, or disengagement—you must take action. Immediately. Because failing to address cultural “stench” allows it to spread. And once it’s pervasive, it’s much harder to clean up.
Here Are 5 Ways to “Take Out the Trash” in Your Organization:
1. Do a Culture Sniff Test.
Regularly assess the health of your team or organization. Ask: What’s working? What feels off? Trust your instincts—and invite feedback.
2. Don’t Just Mask It—Find the Source.
Don’t settle for surface-level fixes. That awkward team meeting or broken relationship? Dig deeper. Get to the root cause instead of covering it up with performance talk or new initiatives.
3. Empty the Bins Often.
Make it a routine to address issues early and often. Feedback, conflict resolution, open forums—create spaces where people feel safe to speak up before things pile up.
4. Watch for Hidden Spoilage.
Sometimes the worst toxicity hides behind high performance or long tenure. Look beyond roles and titles to spot harmful attitudes or behaviors that quietly contaminate culture.
5. Air It Out and Refresh.
Once you’ve removed what’s not working, take time to re-center the team around your values, vision, and goals. Celebrate wins. Reset expectations. Let fresh air in.
Your culture is alive. And like any living thing, it requires care, attention, and a willingness to clean up what doesn’t serve it.
So, leader—what’s the scent of your organization right now?
And more importantly… what needs to be cleared out?
Wishing you and your organization amazing success!!!
~Your Leadership Recovery Coach & OD Consultant, Victoria
