Ducks in a Row: Twisting Culture in the Name of Bigotry
by Miki SaxonAugust 23rd was an interesting reading day for me.
First I read about the ingredients that nine different entrepreneurs utilized to create great cultures and are applicable to any company of any size.
Then I read what some would consider a rant about how culture was used to enable legal discrimination.
The ingredients described in the first article made me smile and shout ‘yes!’, because they are the same things I’ve been preaching for years.
However, the twisted use of culture to legitimatize bigotry and discrimination enraged me—as it always has.
I have long recommended using culture as a hiring filter and still believe it is one of the best around, since attitude is far more important than skills when it comes to who you hire.
People who believe manipulation is the correct tool for getting ahead do not belong in a company that promotes strictly on merit and accomplishment; in fact; they can easily destroy it.
However, a talent for manipulating people has nothing to do with age, gender, race, creed, color, alumni status or the myriad of other differences that may take you out of your comfort zone.
Flickr image credit: Paul Dixon