The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups
by Daniel Coyle. Daniel is the author of The Talent Code, a New York Times bestseller and a contributing editor for Outside Magazine. He has certainly written an insightful book that easily holds your attention around building successful groups.
This is unique because his lessons flow beyond the common idea that ‘groups’ are only within a workplace. On the other hand, it would be a mistake to narrow your view of this book to just the workplace. Daniel delivers impactful lessons for community, academic, and volunteer groups. Almost anyone gathering with others for a common cause can benefit.
The Culture Code is direct in establishing the key building block to group success. Hence, a dedicated, honest, and holistic leadership is key. Moreover, this type of leader allows individuals to feel safe and grow to become loyal to their group’s mission.
Daniel writes an intriguing story in Chapter 4: How to Build Belonging around a group of highly dedicated and successful jewelry thieves. As you can see, this is somewhat weird at first glance. Yet, so committed to this group, each member of this criminal gang selflessly went to prison rather than rat out any member of their group. In fact, this group actually developed plans to free anyone in their group arrested….by actually breaking to the prison. Wow.
Daniel provides many examples of successful groups. There are a number of lessons from military groups focusing on war. While all Americans can identify to the group that killed Bin Laden, military culture is very elite. In comparison, this may be a bit distant for everyday groups striving to succeed.
Leading a group of millionaires?
At a glance, the same could be said for coaching an NBA team. However, you would be very wrong. However you may discover the depth and holistic culture Gregg Popovich holds to his group. This is because his ‘group’ extends far beyond the players. Gregg embraces every employee of organization to a degree that proves his leadership is beyond the game. In fact, after a large loss to a rival, teams review game video to visualize their plays and the mistakes that cost his group a win. Yet, in leadership fashion, Gregg approached the loss differently:
They had sat down with trepidation, expecting Popovich to detail the sins of the previous night, to show them what they did wrong and what they could do better. But when Popovich clicked on the video, the screen flickered with a CNN documentary on the fiftieth anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. The team watched in silence as the story unfolded: Martin Luther King, Jr., Lyndon Johnson, and the Selma marches. When it was over, Popovich asked questions. He always asks questions, and those questions are always the same: personal, direct, focused on the big picture. What did you think of it? What would you have done in that situation?
p. 79
To that end, Gregg found his group just one win away from an NBA championship. He even planned an elaborate dinner beforehand at a very posh restaurant to celebrate. Gregg also is a food and wine connoisseur and owns a vineyard in Oregon. He often orders recommended wine for this group for dinners. There are some examples that overlap to Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness by Richard Thaler, and Cass Sunstein.
Breaking through and staying on plan
However the team lost the game. Yet, he insisted the dinner continue as planned. He embraced each player and their family upon arrival even though another game had yet to be played. They lost the following game, and as a result the championship, but rather than sulk and change direction, Gregg embraced the accomplishments of his group.
His leadership is for many, surprisingly deep and holistic. It forms the base of their culture and provides safety as defined by Daniel. Gregg knows not only the player’s history and family but also the player’s favorite foods. He often asks a while traveling for a player to recommend a restaurant for the team to dine at following a game.
When groups overcome game-changing challenges
There are more examples of our groups succeed under the most stressful situation. Chapter 13 Three Hundred and Eleven Words is also inspiring for groups. This however deals with an immense tragedy: the 1982 Tylenol murders in Chicago. Yet, manufacturer Johnson & Johnson had a group dedicated to their culture called ‘credo’ for the company. This reveals to groups (again) how leadership at the organizational level not only reinforces groups, but strengths them in times of great change.
In conclusion, The Culture Code is a deep and insightful account of successful groups. Many diverse groups will benefit from reading this book and absorbing the insightful lessons.
RSA | The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups
Rotman School of Management | Secrets of Highly Successful Teams
Next Big Idea Club | The Three Most Important Words a Leader Can Say
FranklinCovey | Crack your culture code
Peter Bregman | The Culture Code
Preston Pysh | The Culture Code with Daniel Coyle