The Culture Code

What stayed with me a long time after reading the book, is what the word “culture” actually means. It derives from the Latin term "cultus," which simply means "care." This understanding can serve as a powerful entry point for teams and companies looking to crystallize their culture or implement meaningful changes.

How to care and what to do to bring it to life? The book offers numerous examples from organizations like U.S. Navy's SEAL Team Six, Pixar, the Upright Citizens Brigade, IDEO, and Zappos. However, I was particularly struck by the story of how German and British soldiers found their shared humanity through vulnerability during the Christmas truce of World War I. In that moment of conflict, they were able to connect on a truly human level, reminding us that we can always build on what we deeply have in common, no matter the circumstances.

Raluca Răschip

Co-founder Teamology Institute