Culture is not free beer on Friday’s
OK but only sometimes
What is culture?
Culture is a word so hip we equate it more with free gourmet lunch then how effectively a team functions.
Contrary to what most accelerators would have us believe culture is not defined externally, but internally. It’s less about unlimited time off policies, and more about how someone feels when they take a day off. Is it acceptable to come to work hungover? Do people leave at 5? Is it important to show up on time? Is communication transparent? Are internal politics acceptable? As the founder, it’s easy to assume that everyone shares your drive and motivation for success, but without clearly communicating these values it’s easy for things to go south.
Culture is is not what should be, but rather the right combination of characteristics for your startup to thrive. These will, and should be different from any other startup, and ultimately reflect the type of organization you want to build.
For me, startups are driven by urgency. By a refusal, against all odds, to fail. Not by free beer on Friday’s.
Honesty, focus, punctuality, passion and transparency sit above everything else. They are the difference between success and failure. I believe in focused execution in parallel disciplines, clear communication, and above all a deep and relentless passion to win, passion to learn, and passion for product.
Often the market tells you the opposite. Unlimited time off policies, early friday’s, signing bonuses, 3 month reviews, in office yoga, work from home policies, free lunch, free beer, free gas, free phones. None of these in there essence are bad, but they are not culture.
Competition for engineers is so fierce that if you don’t hire fast you will inevitably miss talent. The mantra: do what you need to do to make the hire. He / she is going to help you win. It doesn’t matter. People don’t win, teams do.
Cultural alignment trumps talent any day. I let an amazing designer walk recently because of this. Even though the immediate benefits are tempting “we really need that person right now to do this!” the candidate will ultimately fail. Their starry-eyed acceptance of their offer will turn to demotivation as they feel oversold on the opportunity, and undersold on the reality. They will become unproductive, and in turn, demotivate others. The wind in your wings will end.
This is culture.
Team synergy is culture. Value alignment is culture. Knowing you will do whatever it takes to get it done, and do it together, is culture. In it to win, is culture. Pushing people up instead of down, even when it hurts, is culture.
And yes, sometimes there is free beer on Friday.
