How to use building blocks to co-create a healthy workplace culture
This week I stumbled upon a new tool that I am eager to integrate into my work. Gustavo Razzetti developed the Culture Design Canvas to support leaders in mapping, assessing and designing company culture. It starts with purpose and values, then captures more subtle components like rituals, norms and rules, and boundaries around psychological safety.
You can download the canvas here. Here's a post about how to map your workplace culture.
He's also posted a good article that describes the key elements of Slack’s workplace culture using the Culture Design Canvas framework. (He reversed engineered this with a good amount of homework. Slack did not use the canvas as a map.)
"At Slack, people work hard and go home. The company culture understands that people have lives — they expect high performance and total dedication, but only during regular working hours. Funnily enough, employees are forbidden to use the Slack app after 6 pm or during the weekend.
"The power of words plays a crucial role in Slack culture. Employees are encouraged to speak well and with purpose. There's an obsession with continually improving communication — both their own and their clients'.
"A strong sense of community is essential to Slack's powerful company culture. Empathy is vital to not only understanding the end user, but also their colleagues. Slack promotes diversity and recruits people with diverse backgrounds and voices. Everyone has an obligation to contribute and make things better."
Article: How Slack Designed a Positive Company Culture