Want to learn the best business insights from remarkable speakers at Slush 2023, but don’t have the time to watch the full speeches on YouTube?
You’ve come to the right place. Below is a summary of a speech by Q Hamirani, Chief People Officer of Paper.
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<p class="h1-rich">🤏 TL;DR</p>
TL;DR: The meeting discussed the importance of building and maintaining a strong culture in an organization, with tips on how to achieve this such as being transparent, focusing on building the right team, and addressing toxic behavior. The example of Airbnb was used to illustrate how resetting the operating system can contribute to success. Action items included assessing the current operating system and culture, evaluating organizational debt, implementing a communication plan, hiring for cultural fit, and defining performance measures.
<p class="h1-rich">✨ Summary</p>
Building a Strong Culture
- Culture is like the operating system of a company, it defines how things are done and fosters productivity and collaboration.
- Organizational updates and continuous monitoring are necessary to maintain a strong culture.
- A weak operating system can lead to a lack of information flow and decision-making ability.
Q Hamirani's Journey
- Q Hamirani has a background in electrical engineering and worked in various roles before transitioning to HR.
- His experience taught him the importance of people in driving success and the need for a strong culture.
- He started his own companies and worked in HR roles at different organizations.
The Impact of People on Success
- People are the key to success or failure in an organization.
- Purpose, values, and having the right people are essential ingredients for building a great culture.
- The "brilliant asshole paradox" highlights the importance of addressing toxic behavior in the workplace.
Tips for Building a Great Culture
Tip 1: Be Real, Authentic, and Vulnerable
- Leaders should be transparent and share both successes and setbacks with their employees.
- Evaluate communication strategies and ensure that information is shared effectively.
Tip 2: Focus on Building the Right Team
- Conduct cultural fit interviews to ensure alignment with values and mission.
- Onboarding should emphasize core values and provide clarity on ways of working.
Tip 3: Address Toxic Behavior
- Recognize and address toxic behavior to maintain a healthy culture.
- Performance measures should consider the impact of behavior on the organization.
Resetting the Operating System at Airbnb
- Airbnb faced challenges due to rapid growth and organizational debt.
- They reset their operating system, implemented a functional structure, and improved information flow.
- Being real, focusing on the right hires, and addressing toxic behavior contributed to their success.
Importance of Updating the Operating System
- An operating system (culture) needs continuous updates to adapt to changes in the organization.
- Organizational debt is a byproduct of success but should be monitored and mitigated.
- Growth and change require recalibration of the operating system.
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