how to understand and improve company culture
TRANSCRIPT
I’ve done it all.Company culture is important so I’ve read all the content, watched the presentations, talked to people and started a few cultures
too!
Not all cults are bad. In fact for startups they
make all the difference. Learn how to build a
team from one person to an unstoppable army.
Cult Creation by Steve Newcombhttp://qs.tc/cult-creation
A group of super high quality people who trust each other and have similar ways of thinking, learning, reacting, problem-solving and working together.
Steve Newcomb’s Definition of a Cult
The Valve Handbook
Netflix
HubSpot’s Culture Code
Kept the team small
Got the wrong people
Didn’t let people go
Tried to make it work
Ignored our values
Just like people, every company is different.
There’s already a culture.
The people on your team are a reflection of your company.
What they say
Who they are
How they treat others
Understand the people and you’ll understand the
culture.
What is Culture?Great culture is the elimination of
all friction.
What is Friction?Dissension or conflict between persons, because of differing ideas, wishes, etc.
Examples of Friction
A closed environment.Rumors and gossiping.A person who isn’t a good fit.Not enjoying coming into the office.Having to get approval to do things.
Playing music at the office forces everyone to listen to it with no ability to opt out.
• Music can bother people• Music prevents conversation• Someone has to speak up for those who don't like it
Problems with communal office music
Since everyone had access to the playlist people just passive aggressively hijacked playlists.
They stopped playing it because people couldn’t find common ground.
Top Sources of Work Conflict• Personal Insecurity• The Desire for Power and Control• Habitual Victimhood
Why we fight at work
http://kiss.ly/whyfight
I used to be allergic to personality tests
Then I had kids!
The Easygoing, Self-Effacing TypeReceptive
Reassuring Agreeable
Complacent
I’m a type 9, the peacemaker
InColor Insight
Action
People
Structure
Ideashttp://kiss.ly/incolor
Hiten’s Personal Insight Inventory
Behavior PreferencesYour focus and style when you feel most confident.
ExpectationsYour deep assumptions about how you and others “should” act.
Needs/Energy What you need on a “gut level” to sustain and restore your energy.
She’s driven by winning,
I’m driven by having a deeper understanding.
Personality differences
I ask her:
“What do you need from me?”
She tells me she needs something.
I ask: “Why?”
Personality differences
It drives her nuts.
She finds those types of conversations a derailment and a waste of time/energy.
Personality differences
Explorers!
Pirates!
Explorer PirateDiscovery centric Market centric
First movers Fast followers
Solves problems Builds solutions
Where are you on the
spectrum?
TODO:
Do what’s right for your company culture.
What works for them won’t necessarily work for you.
TODO:
Figure out who is best for your company.
Understanding yourself and the personalities on your team will help you evolve your culture.
TODO:
Treat the company like your own little lab.
Experiment with ways of working, getting feedback and helping each other for the common goal.
