But watercooler conversations, staffing, and meetings are opportunities to develop culture rather than culture itself. If you handle meetings poorly (with or without rhythm) and hire people who don’t fit the culture you have or are trying to encourage, you’ll find that watercooler conversations don’t positively contributing to culture.

What happens in these opportunities is what drives the development of a great culture. The shared sense of going through the fire together, making sense of wins and losses, the way you interact and communicate with each other in meetings, the way you hold each other accountable, leadership, and the trust you build among team members matter so much more.

Would love to hear about where you look for new candidates?