Google – a family of employees which gets inspired by its own values

Google is the most famous search machine, which was found in 1998. Speaking of the mission of google, organizing the world’s information to make it universal accessible and useful, it does quite effect the organizational culture and leadership of this very company. 

Google´s lobby in Chicago

The so called Googler actually share common visions and goals, however considering the open-minded corporate culture Google sets its priority on putting forward a flexible organizational and leadership style. Concerning this very manner, Google shows a great effort in acquiring a great deal of ideas of all employees, such as conducting the so called TGIF-meetings (Thank God It is Friday - Meetings) or sharing information while sitting in a coffee-shop located in the companies department. Actually Google still considers itself as a Start-up and tries to keep this kind of business culture moving. That is the way, google is doing business and how it meets all needs of its customers and/or users. Due to Google´s worldwide operating area, it is most sufficient to show a great deal of flexibility and empathy throughout gathering information from people with different background, expertise and values. Combining the unique way of idea management and enhancing an outstanding participatory spirit can be constituted for the tremendous success of google. Furthermore, the following list provides you an even deeper insight of how work life at Google is like.

• 1 day or 20% of working hours per week are obliged to spend with gathering new ideas for Google, which encourage people to come up with unique ideas and focus on what they are passionate about. The unique working environment like a table tennis location provide the perfect atmosphere for it. 
• Google does not share the spirit of negating an idea of an employee whereas encouraging him to utilize this very idea plus supporting his passion. Talking of this very issue, leaders of Google are not the common boss like. They actually motivate the employee to find out his own passion and assist him while working thorugh his idea.
• The global rotation program of Google allows the so called Googler to enrich their personal skills while giving him the possibility of working abroad in another Google department and holding the vacancy of his actual job until the employee’s returns.

There are a quite few more aspects to be mentioned of the unique business culture of Google, however at this very point there is one additional aspect to be mentioned, how it is actually recommend to apply for an job at Google. This even emphasizes the very employee centered business culture of Google. When applying for a job at Google, it is most important to write down what you are good at and how you want to imply your personal skills into Google´´s innovation power. It is not about just handing in a CV.

The excursion to google, we conducted on July 27^th, inspired me to take a deeper look on the corporate culture of säft., which is a current project I am working on right now.

right at the entrance of Google in Chicago

Talking of säft., which is an start-up in the healthy nutrition sector, this very organizational culture and leadership of Google is applicable on the business culture of säft. to a large extent. säft. develops a device, which actually works like an Nespresso machine, however instead of making coffee this machine enables everybody to get a healthy juice or delicious cocktail in a few seconds. In the matter of fact, this auspicious business idea requires a great deal of creativity and team spirit. Therefore applying the Google business culture on säft. is another promising step forward of reaching the goal “We redefine the world of juice”, which is simultaneously the vison of säft.. For instance, I can imagine to adopt the idea of taking some working hours of each single employee of säft. encouraging him to do some fun stuff while gathering new ideas/ innovations for säft.  However, you have to be aware of the additional costs which occur due to the current stage of development of säft..

I also would like to invite you taking a further look on the following link to get even more familiar with the corporate culture of Google in way of gathering more information perhaps for your own project or entrepreneurship. - http://www.google.com/about/company/

Best regards,

Tobias Goldhahn