I can’t imagine having a rich dialogue about organizational culture without the anchors that Reed Hastings built in our brains when describing Netflix’s unique culture, through this book. But please, don’t be misled by the title. Netflix’s organizational culture, which prioritizes high performance and the hiring and retention of top talent, is guided by clear and bold principles. Maybe not rules, but very clear principles.
Some of the key aspects that set Netflix's culture apart include a high level of autonomy and responsibility for employees, total transparency where information is openly shared with everybody in the company, and a constant practice of direct feedback among employees at all levels, including upward feedback to managers. These elements are not optional, they are integral to the culture.
I can’t say whether this is the ideal culture for everyone—that’s for each company to decide—but it resonates deeply with me, I would undoubtedly strive to give my best in such an environment.
Raluca Răschip
Co-founder Teamology Institute