The hottest Corporate culture Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

Purpose wins. Who loses?

Thoughts on Writing • 359 implied HN points • 19 Jul 21
💼 Business Corporate culture
  1. The advertising industry has heavily emphasized purpose-driven work in creative awards schemes over the past two decades, potentially losing touch with reality.
  2. Brand purpose, while important, can sometimes become a shield that is hard to challenge, leading to debates on whether it truly benefits causes or if it is a commercial strategy.
  3. The importance of creativity, craft, and ideas in advertising and branding is highlighted, suggesting a refocus on these elements over a strong emphasis on social purpose.

Take the money and run or stay and fight part 2

Splattern • 39 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
💼 Business Corporate culture
  1. It's common for companies to put employees through performance improvement plans (PIPs), often leading to layoffs. Many people believe accepting severance is the best option.
  2. Working as a team and having supportive colleagues can make a huge difference during tough times. Conversations with teammates can provide the encouragement needed to stay and fight.
  3. Taking on a challenging project can be a valuable opportunity for growth. It allows for gaining experience and testing one's abilities while still in a job.
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Fools and Horses

The Radar • 19 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
💼 Business Corporate culture
  1. Pushing a team too hard can lead to negative consequences despite short-term gains. Just like overworking horses can lead to their breaking, overworking employees can lead to burnout and reduced efficiency.
  2. Managers should not ignore ethical concerns in pursuit of business results. It's important to prioritize employee well-being over just achieving immediate goals.
  3. Systemic issues like work overload cannot be solved by individual efforts alone. Companies must address root causes and provide adequate resources to prevent burnout and maintain a healthy work environment.

What's Happening With Boeing

The Radar • 19 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
💼 Business Corporate culture
  1. The article discusses the issues surrounding Boeing, pointing out concerns with past crashes and design flaws in their aircrafts.
  2. The 'Five Whys' technique is highlighted as a method to dig deeper into the root causes of problems, exemplified in the analysis of Boeing's design and manufacturing practices.
  3. The strong influence of corporate culture, lack of competition, and government support are outlined as key factors contributing to Boeing's survival despite repeated failures.

The Company Wants You Back in the Office – RESIST!

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 39 implied HN points • 06 Feb 23
💼 Business Corporate culture
  1. Many employees prefer working from home for the flexibility it offers in their lives and are hesitant to return to the office for multiple days per week.
  2. Companies are facing challenges convincing workers to return to the office due to changing preferences and economic factors like labor shortages.
  3. Employees have some leverage to resist returning to the office and should consider continuing to work from home to maintain their independence and strength.

The Propaganda Paradox

The Radar • 19 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
💼 Business Corporate culture
  1. Companies can fall into the trap of using internal propaganda to influence their employees, but this often backfires, eroding trust and confidence.
  2. Staged interactions and lack of authenticity in leader propaganda can make employees disengage and lose confidence in leadership.
  3. Highlighting frontline workers' stories can build unity and purpose within a team and should be prioritized over showcasing senior executives in internal communications.

Splitting Versus Blending: An AI-Inspired Theory of Neurotypical Advantage

72 Degrees North • 19 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Corporate culture
  1. Neurodiversity includes a range of communication styles, each with unique advantages and disadvantages.
  2. Allistic individuals tend to blend multiple possibilities in social interactions, which can lead to quicker decision-making but also vulnerability to manipulation.
  3. Psychopaths may exploit neurodivergent and neurotypical social tendencies for personal gain, highlighting the importance of understanding and navigating various communication styles.

How a culture fail ruined Boeing

Make Work Better • 114 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
💼 Business Corporate culture
  1. Boeing failed multiple safety tests, leading to accidents and loss of lives, due to a shift towards prioritizing stock price over quality
  2. A strong corporate culture requires aligning stated values with actual behaviors, empowering employees to make decisions based on those values
  3. Businesses that lose sight of their purpose and focus solely on chasing money risk facing significant organizational failures

Winning isn't for Everyone

The Carousel • 54 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
💼 Business Corporate culture
  1. Nike used to be the main brand for running shoes but is now losing its edge. Other brands are becoming popular because people want variety and innovation.
  2. Nike's marketing strategies are not connecting with today's runners and they're failing to engage with the running community. They used to focus on meaningful campaigns but now seem out of touch.
  3. The company's recent struggles show that they are in danger of becoming irrelevant. Instead of adapting to modern trends, they have been more focused on image rather than performance and community connections.

How to be an effective leader [StoryTime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
💼 Business Corporate culture
  1. The article discusses insights from senior leaders in tech about decision-making skills and leadership abilities.
  2. It mentions the importance of learning about experiences, processes, and common motifs from successful leaders.
  3. The post is beneficial for developers aiming for career growth, managers seeking to enhance their skills, and those interested in high-level team dynamics.

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

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 19 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
💼 Business Corporate culture
  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.

Working hard does not cause stress

Wednesday Wisdom • 75 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
💼 Business Corporate culture
  1. Working hard can lead to stress if not balanced with relaxation and downtime.
  2. Fear is a major cause of stress in the workplace, leading to heightened senses and constant worry.
  3. Factors like ever-changing priorities, low-value work, and useless meetings contribute to stress at work.

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 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.

Navigating my career

Splattern • 19 implied HN points • 20 Aug 23
💼 Business Corporate culture
  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.

The Ladder of Prestige

David Reis on Software • 59 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
💼 Business Corporate culture
  1. Understanding and cultivating prestige is crucial for career advancement.
  2. Prestige is granted by association and is easier to measure than competence.
  3. Climbing the ladder of prestige involves strategically associating with increasingly prestigious institutions.

How we built a business out of recession - chapter 33 - corporations are not for me

The ZIPster • 17 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
💼 Business Corporate culture
  1. Starting a business can be tough, especially after facing failure. It's essential to learn and keep going, even when times are hard.
  2. CitNOW grew from a small team to a successful company that was recognized in the market. Hard work and determination can pay off.
  3. Working in a corporate environment can feel limited, and many find more fulfillment in creating and running their own businesses. It's about finding your own way.

How to stop corporate logic killing creativity

A Bit Gamey • 6 implied HN points • 13 Jul 25
💼 Business Corporate culture
  1. Corporate structures often stifle creativity because they focus too much on data and control. Real innovation needs freedom and the ability to explore new ideas without getting bogged down by numbers.
  2. Data can be misleading when trying to predict the future. Instead of focusing only on what's happened before, we should consider bold new ideas that might change the game.
  3. Creativity is a form of rebellion. It's important to confidently advocate for new ideas, even when others are stuck in their traditional ways of thinking.

Output vs. Outcomes - Problem #4

Fish Food for Thought • 17 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
💼 Business Corporate culture
  1. It's important to focus on outcomes, not just outputs. Companies should ask themselves if their efforts really make a difference for customers.
  2. Measuring success by outputs can lead to short-term wins but might miss real problems. Companies should aim for quality and value instead of just quantity.
  3. Shifting to an outcome-driven approach means redefining success metrics. Businesses should prioritize customer satisfaction and engagement over just the number of tasks completed.

The Pichai Predicament

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 19 implied HN points • 18 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Corporate culture
  1. Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, is struggling to keep up with the fast changes in AI technology.
  2. His recent decisions, like the Bard AI launch, have faced criticism from employees, making him a target of jokes.
  3. The backlash has had a significant impact, causing a huge drop in Google's stock value, losing around $100 billion.

Trophy Jobs

Working Theorys • 54 implied HN points • 17 Jul 23
💼 Business Corporate culture
  1. Trophy jobs are jobs people seek for status over substance.
  2. Identifying a trophy job involves evaluating the status-to-substance ratio.
  3. High-status jobs are not always trophy jobs; individual motivation plays a significant role.

Corporate Power Plays

Logos • 39 implied HN points • 17 Mar 22
💼 Business Corporate culture
  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 Corporate culture
  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.

#49: The work of uncertainty

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 59 implied HN points • 07 Oct 20
💼 Business Corporate culture
  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.

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

The Geek Way • 1 HN point • 01 Apr 24
💼 Business Corporate culture
  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.

Why you are frustrated by your organisation

Optimally Irrational • 13 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
💼 Business Corporate culture
  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.

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 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.

Inside Meta’s Chaos, StackOverflow on Its Last Legs, & the Makefile Effect

HackerPulse Dispatch • 2 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Corporate culture
  1. StackOverflow is facing a big decline, with questions down over 70% since 2023. Many users are frustrated with the moderation and are turning to AI tools for support instead.
  2. Electron has been popular for building desktop apps, but it has some issues like heavy memory use. New frameworks like Tauri are coming up as better alternatives.
  3. The 'Makefile effect' shows that engineers often copy and adapt existing setups instead of creating new ones due to tools being too complex. This highlights the need for better tool design to make things easier.

Corporate culture starts at the top

Klement on Investing • 2 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
💼 Business Corporate culture
  1. Leadership sets the culture of a company. If managers are good, employees will stay, but bad managers drive people away.
  2. High employee turnover often means poor corporate culture. People leave bad work environments, showing how they really feel about their jobs.
  3. Companies with staggered boards tend to have worse cultures. This setup allows old board members to stay, making it hard for shareholders to demand changes.

Hope

Fish Food for Thought • 5 implied HN points • 06 Dec 23
💼 Business Corporate culture
  1. Appreciative inquiry focuses on strengths and positivity rather than weaknesses.
  2. Hope plays a crucial role in driving positive actions and outcomes in organizations.
  3. Empowering employees with hope can lead to innovation, growth, and organizational success.

Clients want to see you go back to your office

Fund Marketer • 3 implied HN points • 22 May 24
💼 Business 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.

The “Bus Test” Considered Harmful

Rethinking Software • 2 HN points • 03 Sep 24
🕹 Technology Corporate culture
  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.

Signs of a Climate-Conscience Company

Save Our Happy Place • 5 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment 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.