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“We’re all about being a familiar group, becuase it allows you to take more risks, give each other permission, and have moents of vulerability that you could never have in a more normal setting.” (Duane Bray, IDEO design)
This quote was pulled from “The Culture Code” by Daniel Coyle. Immediately upon reading it I felt weary from seeing so many job listings that drive at some kind of ‘familial’ ideal within their company. The quote, made in reference to the incredible culture that acts as the foundation for the most innovative company of the past several decades, was sincere. IDEO doesn’t label work as ‘family’ and pretend it is so. Their leaders work diligently to put their people first, knowing work that emerges from such teams will be 10x better.
The family that IDEO describes involves the security of knowing one can disagree without retaliation. When one can readily call out an issue, whether it be with teammate or in leadership, the product improves. The mission, safety, and vulnerability of the team comes before ego, finance, and status.
Unfortnately, HR leaders think by saying their teams are ‘like family,’ it will just happen. They don’t realize that secure attachment at work must be fostered at every level within the company for this culture to form. They don’t consider the many employees that see the word ‘family’ as toxic due to their own toxic upbringing. In fact, the use of ‘family’ in a corporate context will skew weaponized as many of our toxic relations use the word so.
I recommend reading “The Culture Code” if you want to lead a group to develop connection that yields more than a paycheck. Now, to the resources…
Tools That Help Unlock Your Time
📝 How does morality effect your business? Check out Nietzsche’s thoughts on values and their influence on a well-lived existence.
🛠️ Last month someone posted in my freelance Telegram group requesting temporary access to a Photoshop subscription. I replied with Photopea, a free (truly free) Photoshop spoof that can do 90% of what the ol’ app provided. Photopea also offeres an Illustrator option. I’ve been using it for years without any compatibility issues.
🛠️ This giant thread of free but powerful internet tools will open doors for your business. I suggest grabbing a coffee and carefully reviewing them all.
🎬 Animals and grief — a quick video about the grief cycle of other animals. How does it effect your worldview? Your business? Your relationships with clients and employees?
🛠️ Data loss in sales creates massive problems. I harp on having a good CRM because it makes staying in contact with leads and partnerships possible. Period. I like SalesRabbit for SMEs for this reason.
📝 How to use downtime as a power tool for productivity (yes, really).
🛠️ Turn your text into visuals. I’m drooling over this AI app, too. Also, the name is adorable — my startup Asterisk started on a restaurant napkin!
📝 Aching for a breakthrough? I often feel that way. Darwin, among others, are quite familiar with this trick.