Culture happens - make it the one you want!

Since 2012, I've led 100s of people in 6 countries.

Most new leaders suck at building culture.

They assume it just happens.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way.

How to turn values into the culture of a high-performing team:

The 10 elements of a high-performing team

• Protects the culture
• Engaged
• Precise
• Honest
• Safe
• Commits
• Focused
• Feedback loops
• Learns & teaches
• Works with urgency

So - how do we turn these into values?

1/ Protects the Culture

Treat the team’s culture as a critical enabler to success and strive to improve it every day.

Why it works: The best teams live and breathe the culture daily. They treat it as an asset

2/ Be Engaged

We actively participate in discussions, let our opinions be known, and are prepared to defend them.

Why it works: Diverse teams bring more solutions. If no one participates in conversations, those solutions stay hidden.

3/ Be Precise

We strive for precision in discussion and clarity of thought. It’s better to say “I don’t know” than to present a weak argument.

Why it works: Precision → more efficient discussion → faster decisions.

4/ Foster Intellectual Honesty

We’re intellectually honest with ourselves and our team. We can challenge each other in a constructive way and understand it’s never personal.

Why it works: The loudest voice in the room usually wins. Level the playing field for everyone.

5/ Foster Psychological Safety

Build your teammates’ confidence in taking risks by avoiding actions that create insecurity or embarrassment. Support each other unconditionally.

Why it works: When people feel supported to take risks, innovation happens faster.

6/ Disagree and Commit

Make your case, present the facts and engage in healthy debate. When the decision is made, commit and own the decision it even if you disagree.

Why it works: Teams can "agree to disagree" yet continue to move forward.

7/ Engineer Feedback Loops

We build fast feedback loops so we can iterate quickly. We form and test hypotheses before spending a lot of time implementing solutions.

Why it works: Use data to commit resources on the right idea.

8/ Learn and Teach

Technology is moving fast so we take time to learn from each other. We’re also generous with our time to teach each other as well.

Why it works: Teams that learn from each other are cohesive.

9/ Remove Distractions

Your team leader will do their best to create an environment where you can enter flow. It’s up to you to turn off notifications and stay focused on your work.

Why it works: Committing to a distraction-free environment creates space for deep work.

10/ Work with Urgency

We have a lot to do. Be impatient for progress and biased for action.

Why it works: Speed matters in business. teams that work with urgency get more done.

So remember, building a culture takes work. You may as well get it right!