Building a Strong Company Culture
I read this last night and found it particularly insightful (via Chris Chandler). It describes how Netflix is currently approaching their company culture.
Please read and share!
If you’re starting a business in Phoenix, or already have one, how are you approaching defining the values of the company, how those values are communicated to employees and the steps necessary to find and retain great employees? Do you practice “adequate performance gets a generous severance package?” Have you ever asked yourself something similar to the Keeper Test:
Which of my people, if they told me they were leaving in the next 2 months, would I fight to keep?
Why not?
If you’re an employee of a company in Phoenix, do you believe in the values your company believes in? Does your company say one thing, yet do another? If you were considering leaving, does your company value you enough to work to keep you there, while at the same time celebrating those who decide to go on to bigger things? Do you know what you’d be paid by another company; is your pay at the top of the market?
Why not?
Update: Interesting analysis of the Netflix guide by Scott Berkun.
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That's why, as an employer, you would be periodically asking yourself the Keeper Test. If the answer is that you wouldn't fight to keep someone, then why are you still employing them? As Netflix stated, let them go now so you can fill that position with someone you would fight for.
August 7th, 2009 at 10:22 pmThe slides took a while to go through, but it was well worth the time. Your insights were interesting too, Curtis. My favorite part of the slide is this statement: "High performance people are generally self-improving through experience, observation, introspection, reading and discussion."
I am now fascinated by Netflix culture and I'd love to know more about the specifics of how they function. I think every business owner, manager and employee would do well to make a study of this material. And I intend to come back to it again to study it in more depth, cause there's lots there to learn from. Thanks for sharing!
August 7th, 2009 at 11:22 pmAt the same time as an employee if a company isn't ready to fight for you to stay, maybe that says something about you?
August 7th, 2009 at 10:02 pmThis sounds like utopia to me.
Netflix was able to verbalize such an elusive concept as culture in such a fascinating way. A case of knowing what you want – and saying it in concrete terms. And a fresh cut from the hullaballoo about motherhood statements and tired clichés. Yet, as in any culture building or transformation, half of its success would depend on the implementers and how true managers and employees are to the culture they espouse.
My favorite part: context, not control. And – increasing talent density faster than complexity grows.
Thanks for sharing this.
January 14th, 2010 at 12:28 am