Netflix’s Freedom And Responsibility Culture

I came across this awesome 128 slide presentation from the CEO of Netflix today (below). The presentation is meant to be read, rather than presented and offers a quick-fire reference guide on the values, behaviors and skills Netflix upholds in the effort to create a culture of freedom and responsibility for their business. Regardless of your position in your current organization, these slides are worth spending some time absorbing – they represent a massive (and necessary) shift from the values and thinking that define rigid cultures of control and process adherence to those that create cultures that set the appropriate context for workers to form nimble, effective teams who constantly innovate, share ideas and challenge and learn from one another. At it’s core this new cultural framework requires a simultaneous top-down and bottom-up infusion of values. Making it work is about getting managers figure out how to get great outcomes by setting the appropriate context, rather than by trying to control their people, as well as about building teams of self motivating, self-aware, self disciplined, self improving people who take ownership and responsibility and are willing to work cross functionally when challenges arise.

The full presentation is embedded below for you to flip through. I’ve included a break down of the 9 behaviors and skills that the company highlights as most important to their culture:

#1 Judgement

• You make wise decisions (people, technical business and creative) despite ambiguity
• You identify root causes, and get beyond treating symptoms
• You think strategically, and can articulate what you are, and are not, trying to do.
• You smartly separate what must be done well no, and what can be improved later.

#2 Communication

• You listen well, instead of reacting fast, so you can better understand
• You are concise and articulate in speech and writing.
• You treat people with respect independent of their status or disagreement with you
• You maintain calm poise in stressful situations

#3 Impact

• You accomplish amazing amounts of important work.
• You demonstrate consistently strong performance so colleagues can rely upon you.
• You focus on great results rather than on process.
• You exhibit bias-t0-action, and avoid analysis paralysis.

#4 Curiosity

• You learn rapidly and eagerly
• You seek to understand our strategy, market, subscribers, and suppliers (factors that impact the business and customer experience)
• You are broadly knowledgeable about business, technology and entertainment (you understand the various contexts the business operates under and the interplay between them)
• You contribute effectively outside of your specialty

#5 Innovation

• You re-conceptualize issues to discover practical solutions to hard problems
• You challenge prevailing assumptions when warranted, and suggest better approaches
• You create new ideas that prove useful
• You keep us nimble by minimizing complexity and finding time to simplify

#6 Courage

• You say what you think even if it is controversial
• You make tough decisions without excessive agonizing
• You take smart risks
• You question actions inconsistent with our values

#7 Passion

• You inspire others with you thirst for excellence
• You care intensely about Netflix’s success
• You celebrate wins
• You are tenacious

#8 Honesty

• You are known for candor and directness
• You are non-political when you disagree with others
• You only say things about fellow employees you will say to their face
• You are quick to admit mistakes

#9 Selflessness

• You seek what is best for Netflix, rather than best for yourself or your group
• You are ego-less when searching for the best ideas
• You make time to help colleagues.
• You share information openly and proactively.