The Ten Commandments of Your Startup

The word ‘Culture’ is thrown about a lot in startups. Most people think of ‘Culture’ as the perks and benefits provided to employees. I think of culture as the morals and value upon which the entire business runs.

This ‘Culture’ has to be set top down. It has to be driven in an almost authoritarian sense by the CEO. If not done, the people will set it for you. Even then, it won’t be consistent, and they will serve only the interests of each individual.

As the CEO, lay down the ten commandments of your startups the day you incorporate it. Even when you are only two co-founders - specify & decide what the company stands for. Write down the core principles and paste them in big bold where everyone is forced to read them.

Be as specific with these commandments. Don’t just write ‘Speed is everything.’ Make an SLA between the individual contributor and the company: ‘Every reported bug should have a preliminary solution in under 2 days.’ ‘Product sprints should be no more than 2 week long.’ ‘Customer emails should be responded to in under 30 minutes.’ You get the gist.

It’s not just about how you do work though. It’s also about ethics. ‘Be kind to customers.’ ‘No questions asked return policy.’ All these may seem frivolous, but they set the cultural expectation. These rules force team mates to put the customer above everything else and value their trust as paramount.

Not only do you write these commandments, but you enforce them with an iron hand. As CEO, it’s your job that culture is adhered to. If someone argues with a customer or puts a profitable deal over the customer’s trust, they’re reprimanded in a suitable fashion. No exceptions. If the commandment allows for ‘some exceptions’, it’s not a commandment. It’s a suggestion. Culture should be law.

The best way to enforce the culture you have written is to embody it yourself. Lead by example. Live the commandments. Reprimand yourself if you fail to adhere. Show your teammates why these commandments matter. Show them what the company stands for through action. They will fall in line and ensure the image is maintained. If you get exceptions as CEO, why not others? That’s not how it works.

Write these non-negotiable commandments for your startup today.