Culture Equals Values Plus Behavior

Simon Sinek and a guest (Lt. Gen. George Flynn, USMC, retired) discuss what company culture actually means and why most organizations get it wrong. The conversation cuts through the surface-level understanding of culture as perks and amenities and offers a sharper definition.

The Definition

The best definition of culture the guest has encountered: culture equals values plus behavior. A strong culture requires two things working together. First, you need clearly articulated values. Second, you hold people's behavior accountable to those values.

Weak cultures fail on one or both counts. Either the company has not defined its values clearly, or it does not hold anyone accountable when behavior drifts from those values. The yoga classes, free food, and office amenities that people associate with "culture" are superficial. They do not create shared ways of doing things.

Values as a Filter

Sinek adds a key point: your values should be a filter. If everyone agrees with your values, they probably do not stand for much. Genuine values are specific enough that some people will disagree with them. That disagreement is the point. Values should attract the right people and repel the wrong ones.

You hire to your values. You promote to your values. You hold performance reviews against your values. When those values have teeth, when someone can actually fail to meet them, that is when culture becomes real.

Key Takeaways

• Culture = values + behavior, not perks and amenities
• Strong cultures require both clearly defined values and behavioral accountability
• Weak cultures lack either defined values or enforcement of those values
• Good values act as a filter: some people should disagree with them