After viewing the above video, reflect on the following questions in a well-written post on your Reflection Blog.
- Does Schmidt's description of the Google Culture make sense to you?
Honestly, I went ahead and read the entire transcript (rather than focusing on a single section) because the video would not play for me, so my responses will reflect a more holistic response approach.
Mr. Schmidt's descriptions did make sense to me, and I found them fascinating. They do not hire people simply because they know they will get along with others. In fact, a company where everybody gets along is demonstrated to not be effective. Google hires based upon the ability of its members to be good at what they do and get the job done.
- Is this a reasonable way to view the work that most people are doing in your workplace?
I would say that it is. In my work-force, all of the officers have their own responsibilities that they must take care of and people who work for them. We have a weekly "staff meeting" to inform the squadron commander of what we are currently pursuing or just to convey general thoughts/concerns. This forum is a good opportunity to solicit feedback from fellow leaders, but occasionally disagreements will ensue. Like Google, we also hire from a broad-spectrum of society. We empower our members and trust they will get the job down on their own terms but in-line with the Air Force Core Values and mission requirements.
- As a leader, does it take courage to have and to implement this point of view?
Being a leader always takes courage. Periodically, you must make decisions that you feel are in the best interest of the organization even when that choice may not be popular with the people. Courage is integral to getting the job done because one must not waiver just because an idea is unpopular.
- Could this approach backfire?
Ultimately, it is possible for even the best-laid plans to backfire. Google has been very successful, but it is also only slightly over a decade old. Fame and success come and go. I do believe that the practices Google implements now are a large reason for its success, but whether or not those policies continue to be "best practices" in the future remains to be seen. Just like any major company, Google must adapt and change with the times. Ultimately, this will involve variations to its current approaches.
- What can you take away from this exercise to immediately use in your career?
These exercises have been extremely worthwhile and led to a great deal of introspection. I do believe that the Google article may be my favorite yet. I think that my greatest lesson from it is to realize that people do not always have to get along for the job to get done. Disagreement may foster new ideas. As a result, I may introduce some friendly competition into my own work center before too long. I know that Google and the military are quite different, but I feel that many of the lessons conveyed by Mr. Schmidt would be good for any organization if they wish to reflect even a small measure of the success Google enjoys.
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