The hottest Corporate culture Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

Why companies (like Nike or Starbucks) make good or bad decisions

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 19 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
💼 Business Strategy Management Decision-making Corporate culture Organizational Behavior
  1. Words like strategy and culture are losing their meaning in companies, making it hard to make clear decisions.
  2. Starbucks' mission statement is seen as too vague and fluffy, which can lead to confusion about their goals.
  3. Nike focuses on marathon world records because it emphasizes performance and achievement, aligning with their brand values.

Culture is what you put up with

Sunday Letters • 79 implied HN points • 26 Jun 22
🎭️ Culture Corporate culture
  1. Culture is shaped by what people are willing to tolerate in a workplace. It reflects the behaviors and standards that are accepted, even when they fall short of ideal goals.
  2. Big companies often make significant sacrifices for certain cultural elements. For instance, Google might prioritize code quality over a fast release schedule, while Amazon might focus on efficiency at the cost of employee turnover.
  3. To truly understand a company's culture, it’s important to look at the worst behaviors that are accepted. This gives a clearer picture than just stating cultural aspirations.

Answer three questions to make remote work productive for your company

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 19 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
💼 Business Management Remote work Productivity Team Dynamics Corporate culture
  1. It's important for companies to measure performance at individual, team, and organizational levels. This helps make sure everyone is contributing to their goals.
  2. Culture matters a lot in remote work. A strong culture can keep workers connected and motivated, even when they are not in the same physical space.
  3. Employee satisfaction is key. Happy employees are usually more productive, so companies should focus on what makes their workers feel valued and fulfilled.
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Navigating my career

Splattern • 19 implied HN points • 20 Aug 23
💼 Business Career development Corporate culture Skill Building Mentorship Job Market
  1. Mastering software engineering is the current focus, and the job at Amazon offers valuable learning opportunities.
  2. Staying with a supportive team helps with mentorship and collaboration, which are important for future career goals.
  3. Freelancing could be an option for faster learning, but there are concerns about leaving a good team and its benefits.

Corporate Power Plays

Logos • 39 implied HN points • 17 Mar 22
💼 Business Corporate culture Workplace dynamics Employee Relations Professional development
  1. In the corporate world, people often pretend to be collaborative, but it's really very competitive. You need to be aware of these power dynamics to navigate successfully.
  2. Using phrases like 'let's take a step back' can establish you as a thought leader in meetings, but be cautious not to overdo it. Everyone needs to contribute to keep things productive.
  3. Dressing differently, like wearing a suit in a casual workplace, can signal status and create a perception of power. Be strategic about how you present yourself to others.

Reflections on Workplace Infantilisation

The 21st Century Proletarian • 19 implied HN points • 22 Aug 22
🎭️ Culture Workplace dynamics Corporate culture Employee Satisfaction Neoliberalism Solidarity
  1. Modern workplaces are increasingly resembling playgrounds for adults, with fun activities and colorful environments to create a more enjoyable work atmosphere.
  2. The infantilization of office culture can lead to employees feeling disempowered, lacking genuine workplace satisfaction, and being discouraged from advocating for their own interests.
  3. The Stepford employee dynamic, cultivated by companies treating workers like children, can suppress autonomous thinking, hinder collective organizing for better conditions, and foster a culture where employees rely on the company to dictate appropriate behavior.

Why you are frustrated by your organisation

Optimally Irrational • 13 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
💼 Business Management Corporate culture Ethics Workplace dynamics Incentives
  1. Beneath the overly positive facade of organizations, there's often a reality of dysfunction and disillusionment.
  2. The principal-agent problem highlights the conflict of interests between individuals and the organization's goals, leading to misaligned incentives.
  3. Managers can prioritize personal gains, reputation, and short-term benefits over the organization's success, perpetuating issues like hyperactivity and micromanagement.

#49: The work of uncertainty

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 59 implied HN points • 07 Oct 20
💼 Business Management Innovation Workforce Corporate culture Organizational development
  1. Valuable work today involves adapting and innovating constantly. This means being open to changes in roles as work evolves.
  2. Open-ended roles can lead to worker exploitation if not managed properly, especially for those with low job value. High-value workers, however, can thrive in such flexible environments.
  3. Using open-ended roles and negotiation helps teams evolve and adapt to new challenges. This is crucial for jobs that deal with uncertainty and require creative problem-solving.

Clients want to see you go back to your office

Fund Marketer • 3 implied HN points • 22 May 24
💼 Business Marketing Finance Investment Economics Corporate culture
  1. Clients prefer meeting face-to-face rather than just digital communication. They find personal connections make a big difference in their experience.
  2. There is a growing concern about the quality of online content due to AI. People are worried that much of what they see is just generic and not engaging.
  3. In the world of crypto investments, people care more about seeing prices go up than deep storytelling. Investors are often just looking for quick gains.

Jack Welch's Theory of Leadership: A Model for Failure in the 21st Century

The Geek Way • 1 HN point • 01 Apr 24
💼 Business Leadership Corporate culture Management Success Change Management
  1. Encouraging vulnerability in the workplace can lead to malingering, which can harm cooperation within a team.
  2. Model 1 leadership norms, like taking charge and minimizing losing, may not be suitable for running a modern company that requires adaptation to change.
  3. Defensiveness in Model 1 leadership can hinder innovation and prevent companies from thriving in a rapidly changing business landscape.

The “Bus Test” Considered Harmful

Rethinking Software • 2 HN points • 03 Sep 24
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Innovation Corporate culture Management
  1. The 'bus test' checks if a company can function without a specific person. If they can't, their idea is often rejected. But this test can stifle creativity and good ideas.
  2. Believing every employee is replaceable can hurt a company's innovation. Unique contributions should be valued, as they help a company grow and stay competitive.
  3. Encouraging unique ideas instead of over-standardizing processes can motivate employees. When people feel appreciated for their creativity, they are less likely to leave the organization.

Inside Pinduoduo: A Glimpse into the High-Pressure Management and Temptations of a Chinese E-commerce Giant

China Story • 2 HN points • 27 Apr 23
💼 Business Corporate culture Management Tech industry Employee Relations Ethics
  1. Interviewers at Pinduoduo weed out those who speak out to maintain a silent workforce.
  2. Pinduoduo uses high salaries to tempt and drive discourse among employees.
  3. Pinduoduo tightly controls employees to prevent leaks, including strict social interaction rules and non-compete agreements.

You probably work at a big company because you thought you should: Why I'll never work at a FAANG or big company again

Data Science Daily • 2 HN points • 04 Mar 23
💼 Business Workplace dynamics Career Choices Corporate culture
  1. Consider where you live and work based on constraints like availability, budget, and awareness.
  2. Big companies might offer prestige, but small companies can provide faster decision-making and more impactful work.
  3. Working at a small company can be more fulfilling than at a large corporation, with less bureaucracy and more client focus.

Signs of a Climate-Conscience Company

Save Our Happy Place • 5 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Business Sustainability Workplace Corporate culture
  1. Look for company initiatives, climate enablement, and metrics during onboarding to see if a company cares about the planet.
  2. Consider benefits that encourage sustainable living as a sign of a climate-conscience company.
  3. Check if a company measures and shares metrics like carbon footprint, water footprint, and waste footprint to gauge their commitment to the planet.

Working at Google: Maps Continued

Life Since the Baby Boom • 3 HN points • 27 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Software Development Corporate culture Patents Code Reviews Project management
  1. Marissa Mayer oversaw Google's 'Local' division, focusing on local ads and services.
  2. The acquisition of Zagat by Google faced internal resistance and eventually Zagat was spun out to another company.
  3. Code reviews and the pursuit of perfection in coding can lead to conflicts and differing perspectives among software engineers.

Làm thuê và làm chủ

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 19 implied HN points • 28 Mar 18
💼 Business Employee Management Corporate culture Work Environment Productivity
  1. As an employer, it's crucial to create a working environment where employees are valued, developed, and potentially given opportunities for growth to retain talent.
  2. Employers need to offer competitive benefits to attract and respect their workforce, striving for a mutually beneficial relationship rather than viewing employees as replaceable.
  3. There's a need to shift the mentality in Vietnamese society to value employees and their contributions, fostering an environment where skill development and commitment are encouraged.

🐿️ YOU! - The Insanely Profitable Tech Newsletter

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 0 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
💼 Business Leadership Management Teamwork Productivity Corporate culture
  1. In emergencies, everyone looks to others to act, so it helps to designate someone in charge to break the inaction. This was seen when a bystander gave orders at an accident scene, leading to quicker help for the injured.
  2. Teams often struggle with accountability because they wait for someone else to take responsibility. Setting clear roles and deadlines can help prevent this issue.
  3. Encouraging a culture where everyone feels empowered to take initiative is important. The key is to reward those who step up, as taking action is better than doing nothing at all.

3 - unobvious - things I learned serving entrepreneurs

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 30 Aug 13
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Leadership Corporate culture
  1. Establishing leadership is crucial for building a strong team and pitching investors successfully.
  2. Encouraging personal initiatives in the workplace fosters innovation and helps identify diverse talents and skills within the team.
  3. Maintaining corporate culture and cohesion is essential for the longevity and success of a company, preventing decline and promoting teamwork.

On Corporate America

The Unabashed Observer • 0 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
💼 Business Corporate culture Management Ownership Financial Decisions Career development
  1. American capitalism creates immense wealth, leading to ongoing conversations about wealth distribution and creation.
  2. Large companies exhibit organizational similarities despite diverse industries, driven by the alignment of incentives for owners, managers, and workers.
  3. Understanding the structure of large corporations can help individuals navigate their own career growth within such systems.

"Here's a Different Idea"

The Radar • 0 implied HN points • 02 Sep 23
💼 Business Leadership Workplace dynamics Corporate culture Employee engagement Decision-making
  1. Agency is powerful - When people have ownership in decisions, they are more motivated to prove them right.
  2. Persuasion is effective - Giving individuals a choice empowers them, leading to better outcomes and increased effort.
  3. Data-driven decisions - Using data and evidence in leadership makes decisions more rational and invites respect, fostering loyalty and team camaraderie.

The Amazon Pivot Program

Splattern • 0 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
💼 Business Corporate culture Employee Relations Performance Management Human Resources
  1. The Amazon Pivot Program offers employees a tough choice: you can either accept a severance package and leave or try to improve performance in a month.
  2. Feedback about performance comes from managers and peers, but it can be unclear how it specifically affects the decision to enter the Pivot Program.
  3. Deciding whether to stay and fight or take the severance depends on personal goals, learning opportunities, and the work environment you want.

Good intentions don't work

Tech Ramblings • 0 implied HN points • 05 Feb 23
💼 Business Management Processes Corporate culture Decision-making Efficiency
  1. Good intentions alone are not enough to achieve goals; having clear processes is essential. Relying on gut feelings or promises can lead to bad outcomes.
  2. Good teams follow documented processes for tasks, decisions, and problem-solving. This helps everyone know what to do and ensures accountability.
  3. Amazon's culture emphasizes clear procedures, which makes it a great place for engineers. Following these principles helps teams work effectively and align their efforts.

Building a Management Training Curriculum at Avvo

It Depends / Nimble Autonomy • 0 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
💼 Business Management Training Leadership Corporate culture Organizational development
  1. Involving everyone in the management training process makes them feel included and valued. It's better to gather ideas from the team instead of simply giving them a top-down list.
  2. The group can identify essential leadership qualities through discussion and voting. This opens up conversations and helps everyone agree on what qualities are most important for their roles.
  3. After deciding on key qualities, self-assessment can help managers identify their strengths and areas for improvement. This shared understanding can guide the future training curriculum.

🐿️ Synecdoche - The Insanely Profitable Tech Newsletter

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 0 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
💼 Business Corporate culture Management Practices Team Dynamics Performance evaluation Organizational Behavior
  1. Using synecdoche, or referring to a whole group by a part of it, can make communication more engaging and memorable. It helps in keeping language lively and can simplify complex ideas.
  2. Rewarding the whole team for their collective achievements is often more effective than just acknowledging individual stars. This promotes collaboration which is crucial for success.
  3. Traditional performance metrics and individual incentives can hinder teamwork. Instead, focusing on the overall outcomes and celebrating collective efforts can lead to better alignment and cooperation.