The Power of the Other: The startling effect other people have on you, from the boardroom to the bedroom and beyond-and what to do about it

by Henry Cloud

there is a process for closing the gap, a path that will take them from where they are at the moment to where they want to go. How did he create this kind of relational safety? First, he focused on creating a peer-to-peer culture with no bosses. He got rid of all signs of hierarchy at creative meetings, replacing conference tables and place cards with comfy chairs to reinforce the sense that everyone is equal and on the same level. Second, he insisted that everyone have a vested interest in the film’s success. Above all else, the film had to be right. It wasn’t about whether individuals looked good or appeared smarter than everyone else. It wasn’t about individuals winning; it was about making the best movie possible.

In my company, the culture should be such that debates are won by facts and not merit. And leave things open to debate because it makes sense. Leave social status and hierarchy at the door.