Ingredients: Hidden & Covert

This next section includes elements of your culture that may not be as obvious and evident.

Attitude

This is the way people feel about and approach various situations.

Shared Assumptions

Things perceived to be true about your company, your brand, about working there, about your products, etc. These may or may not be accurate to the truth, but they’re perception and assumption.

Unwritten Rules

While your company handbook includes your official rules, regulations and policies, there are other rules that aren’t formally documented. Some call this tribal knowledge. This is the unwritten stuff you are told about or learn on your own that help you be successful in the job.

A random example… Howard Schultz the CEO of Starbucks does not like the smell of cooked popcorn in the Seattle office. It was forbidden for employees to make popcorn in the break rooms anywhere near Howard’s office. That one wasn’t written down anywhere, but you’d find out the hard way if you broke the rule.

Norms

“The way things are done around here.” These are informal guideline about what is considered “normal” behavior. What is considered correct or incorrect. These are the expectations employees have from each other when they work together.