4 things I learnt about shaping a company’s culture
I am writing this article from personal experience of managing teams and contributing to organizational culture for over a decade. I am sure that what I am sharing can probably be found in books. However, I think it’s important to note that the below is shared solely based on lived experience and my general knowledge.
The truth is that there is no easy way to shape culture in a team or company, especially when it’s not in line with the larger cultural context. Personally, I wanted to foster a collaborative environment of respect and empathy, open-mindedness, humbleness and open feedback. In an Eastern European, post-soviet country, the above are not something most of us have grown up with.
Additionally, there is certainly no quick/fast way to shape culture. It takes time and repetition. Culture is a manifesto and a declaration, but most importantly it is daily actions that embody values that support it.
Here are some things I learned throughout my experience:
Ensure your leadership team is on the same page with you. A strong leadership team is the first prerequisite to shaping your culture. They are the people in the room who can continue consolidating company’s values, when you’re not around. Make sure your whole leadership team shares the same values with you. Talk about your culture all the time, make it a discussion, at every possible circumstance.
Include culture into your recruitment process. While skills are important when hiring, list out what personal qualities are important in a candidate. Hard skills are easier to learn than fundamental values a person carries through their life. An addition of a new person will influence the rest of the team: they can lift people up or bring them down. Even if a candidate matches the hard skills and other professional requirements, their culture, if not a good fit, will have a lasting effect on your current team. The negative effect of a culture misfit is much more damaging than lack of resources inside the team.
Address conflicting behavior right away. Even if you talk all the time about culture and company values, it may happen that someone in the team will misstep and behave in contradiction to these values. This has to be addressed right away. Preferably, first privately with the person. If they do not implement feedback and do not change their behavior, consider a more drastic decision (see next point). Secondly address what happened with the whole team. Being empathetic, speaking confidently and openly is key. Discussing a complicated situation and using it as an opportunity to reinforce your values, helps everybody else to witness a model of behavior that is in line with company’s culture.
It’s not people first, it’s culture first. I am sure you read statements from companies state that they are people first. While I understand what they mean, I do not agree with the statement. When a company is people first, it doesn’t fully take in consideration that not all people are a good fit for the company. Leading with ‘people first’ mentality when it comes to a toxic person — creates damage to the whole team. At times, the solution is to remove a person, whose behavior does not align with company’s values. Regardless how talented and skilled the person is. Removing a toxic person will allow everybody else in the team to continue growing and working more efficiently. That’s why I think culture first is more accurate when we consider a team as a cross-influential set of individuals.
Working with teams is one of the most challenging, and most rewarding experiences. Creating authentic connections, fostering trust and respect, directly impacts how team members feel at work, and ultimately how productive they are. I truly believe that culture should be one of the many aspects one considers, regardless what side of the recruitment/hiring process they are. Last but not least, building happier teams simply makes the whole society better. It should be a mission for any company.
PS: this text has been written and edited without the assistance of AI.
Letter from San francisco
I am at San Francisco airport waiting to board my flight back to Moldova, as I write this letter. The last 2 weeks I have spent with my cousin Max, his wife Zerah and my cute 3 year old nephew Noah. My aunt and uncle from Toronto, Canada, have also flown in for a week for Noah’s birthday. This two weeks have been filled of excitement, as I got to reconnect not only with my family but also with my highschool friends. I also had exciting work-related meetings. Needless to say, it’s been a packed trip. Here are some lessons learned I am taking away with me:
If one can negotiate with a 3 year old in a Non-violent way, one can definitely do it with an adult
Zerah’s and Max’s communication with Noah is based on respect, telling the truth, negotiating honestly, validating feelings and gentle touch. It has once again reminded me about NVC (non-violent communication) and how much it would benefit so many adults to practice it, and learn empathy towards themselves and those around them. I know it is a skill that I will be pursuing to improve.
Friends you know for almost 3 decades are friends forever
In true fashion of my friend Cristina, who is currently a highly respected professor at Iowa State university, she has planned a surprise visit for Marina’s birthday, flying to Berkley where she currently resides. Merely a 30 minute trip from San Francisco, and I felt a warm feeling of belonging wash over me. Seeing the faces of my old friends, reminded how precious our relationship has been and is. We were friends, parents, supporters and mentors to each other in the most formative years of our lives. Who we are today is very much influenced by our sisterhood. I am grateful beyond words the women we have grew to be, and the 16 year old us would have never thought we would be celebrating a 35 year birthday in Berkley, USA.
Taking a break can look differently
Though I have woken up daily at 6:30-7am, my brain has relaxed in a different way being away from home. Not worrying constantly about the political situation, war, etc. has been a much needed mental break. It’s a privilege I recognize and appreciate tremendously.
Time with family and friends is priceless
My decision to make this trip happen was triggered by several events. First one happened a long time ago, as I was viewing photos from Marina’s and Cristina’s wedding ceremonies here in the US, which I was not able to attend. Back then it hit me, that I missing out on so many important life events of the people I care about. Second reason, is war. Suddenly, I realized that there is never a good timing, but in a matter of a second it can be too late, so I should stop postponing the opportunity to see family and bond with them.
My gratitude goes to myself as well for allowing me feel like this is an experience I deserve to have. For now this is all that I wanted to share in this letter.
Cheers,
Polina
PS: this text has been written and edited without the assistance of AI.
first letter
I’ve been trying to get myself to write more for a very long time. With the rise of social media, TikTok and Reels, I feel like I am doing a lot of content consumption instead of content creation. While I do consider that I create at work, I’ve always found a sense of a deep understanding of myself when I wrote purely my thoughts, recollections or simply opinions about this and that.
My last article on the blog was written in 2017 in Romanian language. When I re-read those texts, I’m amazed that it was my fingertips that typed those words out.
Today, I received a message from Oana, sharing a project she has been doing for over a decade now, sharing what she’s grateful about in a daily blog. It felt like a kick in the ass. I can start small, and share every day. It does not have to be poetic, deep, or revolutionary. It can simply be about my life, my experience and my thoughts in a day.
I always thought that a good day is the one where I did something good for my body, something good for my mind and something good for my soul. I know that not all days are good, but I fear if I don’t document my life, even within small paragraphs, I will miss the opportunity to appreciate the good days and learn from the not so good ones. Here’s to letter one, and more to come.
PS: this text has been written and edited without the assistance of AI.