Career Archives

Netflix’s Approach to Organizational Transparency

Is it a good idea for company executives to share sensitive information with all employees, including finances and employee profiles? What practices does Netflix use to ensure organizational transparency? According to Reed Hastings, the CEO of Netflix, there are many benefits of transparency in the workplace. That’s why at Netflix, they are transparent about financial data, job security, mistakes, and even firings. Let’s look at four specific ways that Netflix practices organizational transparency and the positive outcomes that come from this practice.

How to Schedule Your Time in the Most Optimal Way

How should you optimally spend your working hours every day? What tasks should you complete first? Your optimal scheduling depends on your goals and priorities. In their book Algorithms to Live By, Christian and Griffiths make a case of using computer algorithms to schedule your day in the most optimal way. Here is how to schedule your time using Christian and Griffiths’s scheduling algorithms.

Netflix: Innovation Is a 4-Step Process

What is it like to work at Netflix? Does Netflix have an innovative culture? As a company with no vacation or expense policy, Netflix is no stranger to taking an unorthodox approach to management. One of Netflix’s more unique policies is the freedom it gives to its employees to innovate and make risky decisions, despite the chance that they won’t pay off. Keep reading to learn about Netflix’s method of inspiring innovation (what the company calls the “Netflix Innovation Cycle”).

When to Fire an Employee Who Is Only “Good Enough”

How do you know when to fire an employee? Why should you fire employees who are “good” but not “great”? At Netflix, Reed Hastings’s policy is to fire an employee even if they haven’t done anything wrong. He treats his company like a sports team—you will be replaced if the company finds someone better. This may sound harsh, but it’s part of the reason why Netflix is such a successful company. Here’s why Netflix lets go of adequate employees and how to manage the potential pitfalls of this practice.

Starting a Second Career: Advantages and Pathways

Are you entertaining the idea of starting a second career? What are the advantages of having two careers? A second career is a career you initiate around the midpoint in your working life. According to Peter Drucker, there are two key advantages of starting a second career: 1) avoiding career stagnation, and 2) having an extra opportunity for professional realization. Let’s explore Drucker’s notion of a second career, its advantages, and how to start it.

Peter Drucker: Managing Oneself—Book Overview

What’s Peter Drucker’s Managing Oneself about? What’s the key message to take away from the book? Managing Oneself discusses how to take charge of your career to maneuver yourself into your ideal job. Peter Drucker, the author of many works on management theory, outlines the most important factors that he believes will help you succeed in your career efficiently. He asks that you manage yourself and take actions now that will lead to a flourishing career in the future. Here’s our review of Managing Oneself by Peter Drucker.

How to Use Meditation for Success

Do you believe the myth that meditation can hinder your success? Is there a way to use meditation for success? In his book 10% Happier, former meditation skeptic Dan Harris said that he used to believe that mindfulness and ambition could not coexist. He thought that if he took up mindfulness meditation, he would need to sacrifice his career. As it turns out, he was able to find a balance between the two. Here’s how you can make your meditation practice work with your career.

Career Self-Management: Own Your Success

What does it mean to manage yourself? Why is it important to take responsibility for developing your own career? According to Peter Drucker, managing yourself is taking responsibility for yourself and your career development so that you can grow and learn throughout your working life. In other words, it means taking the initiative to develop your skills so that you maximize your chances of having a successful career. Keep reading to learn what career self-management is and why it’s a practice that Drucker believes you should engage in.

How to Build Trust in the Workplace

Why is it important to foster a culture of trust in the workplace? What does trust have to do with career success? Trust is an essential component of working effectively with others. Trust gives you credibility, creating a pool of people who know your skills and track record. Also, most jobs involve working with other people in some capacity—so, if you can’t foster trust and collaborate well, it will hinder your ability to advance. Here’s how to build trust in the workplace, according to Peter Drucker.

Career Reflection: The 3 Stages of Self-Examination

Why is self-reflection important in career development? What aspects should you reflect on with regards to your career? According to Peter Drucker, the author of Managing Oneself, career reflection is part of the process of taking responsibility for yourself and will help you to advance in your career. Drucker says that, once you have greater self-knowledge, you can and must actively seek out situations where you’ll thrive. Learn about the three stages of professional self-reflection that Drucker recommends to manage yourself so that you learn who you are—and what your personal recipe for career success is.