Interview with Erin Meyer and how to develop a culture that breeds innovation and flexibility

Erin Meyer, in this interview, discusses her book "No Rules Rules," co-written with Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix. The book delves into the unique organizational culture at Netflix, which Meyer and Hastings believe is a major driver of the company's success. This culture is marked by high flexibility and innovation, distinct from traditional corporate cultures which focus on control and stability.

Meyer spent three years researching for the book, conducting over 200 interviews with current and former Netflix employees. Her goal was to decipher and systematize the seemingly chaotic but effective culture at Netflix to offer actionable insights to other organizations. The main challenge was to understand and articulate how various aspects of Netflix's culture interconnect and function to promote success.

The core of Netflix's culture, as Meyer found, is its handling of dilemmas or tensions within the organization. Unlike many companies that emphasize absolute positives like integrity and respect, Netflix and similar culture-driven companies like Amazon and Google focus on managing internal tensions effectively. These companies articulate their culture by encouraging employees to navigate these tensions, such as balancing personal judgment with company loyalty or deciding when to challenge decisions and when to align with them.

Meyer emphasizes that today's most successful companies replace rigid control mechanisms with a strong, flexible culture. This shift is crucial in the current business environment, where creativity and innovation are more critical than mere efficiency and error reduction. For companies willing to move away from an industrial-era mindset, Meyer suggests that cultivating a strong organizational culture is essential for agility and sustained success in the modern world.