Jocelyn
Fantastically honest post. Appreciate how candid you were about the delta (even at the most senior levels) between what you considered your culture and the reality.
You’re essentially talking about the 3 levels of Culture that Edgar Schein made famous
Artifacts — what you can see, hear, touch, feel inside a company
Espoused Values — What we SAY is important and often is
Assumptions — How things are actually perceived/done and the internal short-hand that is actually your culture.
Saying that “we’re an open company and every opinion counts” (VALUES) and having team meetings where everyone has a chance to speak and air their POV (ARTIFACTS) is great. But it means nothing if, at the end of the meeting, the most senior person stands up and decides which ideas/POV move forward and which don’t. That’s how ASSUMPTIONS form and become the deepest part of your Culture.
Thank you again for a great read.
As a Silicon Valley alum, you may enjoy my post on “Culture in An Age of Unicorns & Disruptors”
