Team > Family

"You'll lay someone off in a way you know you wouldn't, like your sister."

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings describes this as the culture bomb of most traditional companies - they operate as "families."

Meanwhile, he does the opposite at Netflix, emphasizing the importance of directness with empathy.

The analogy he uses, which I think is fantastic, is the "professional sports team." 

At Netflix, the focus is on candid feedback and swift decision-making, creating a culture where tough choices are made with care and respect akin to dealing with family.

This approach fosters an environment of transparency and trust, encouraging employees to voice their opinions openly.

By prioritizing honest communication and rapid responses, Netflix empowers its team to innovate fearlessly while maintaining a supportive, family-like atmosphere that values each individual's contribution.

I've worked at both "family" style culture companies and those that were more "sports team." Without a doubt, the higher-performing culture was the latter.

As Reed says in the clip, you need team players who also have a ruthless desire to win.

They also need to be empowered to "play the blind pass," i.e., to do things that push people to their limits.

Organizational culture is the foundation of companies, and every company is different. 

Think deeply about this before you accept an offer to move elsewhere (or even start your own).