The Culture Code

By: Daniel Coyle 

Finished: 3/8/24

What’s it about:  What makes the best teams and cultures function at a higher level than others.  

Main takeaway:  Cohesion, communication, belonging.  That’s a very short summary with a lot of things in between, but that’s seems to be what makes the best teams tick.  They care about each other and prioritize the “inner team” above all else.  

People are selfless in great team (the new Zealand all blacks say “sweep the shed”, and ode to all the players keeping the equipment area clean and “leave the jersey better.)”

People communicate at an extreme level, and it is not hierarchical, it is short bursts of intense information where anyone can say “I don’t know, I need help”.  

People all have a collective idea of what they are doing and working on, some may call it a purpose, due shared mottos and short phrases (“Pound the rock” by the Spurs, “Create rave reviews” of Michelin star restaurants, and Johnson and Johnson’s motto that “patients and doctors come first”).  

People collaborate A LOT and don’t feel like they can’t talk to someone above them.  They all work together and communicate to solve problems.

Lastly, they review actions together afterward and attempt to derive feedback.  The military does this in After Action Reviews where everything is laid on the table and success and often failures are highlighted without ego.

In summary, the best book I’ve read on teams and a must for any leader.