We Investigated Ourselves and It's Complicated

Corporate culture, A.K.A Generally Accepted Behavioral Principles, has been the center of many conversations since Uber's recent shake up. While culture influences policy, it's usually a set of unwritten rules or an unspoken code that people come to accept as an organization's modus operandi. In most toxic cultures, there's a dichotomy between well-written empty words and actions. That dichotomy is rooted in a refusal to acknowledge, let alone address "profitable" wrongdoings. Uber is the cautionary tale of the moment, but toxic culture can plague any organization, private, public or nonprofit as long as they comprise human beings.

If it doesn't look broke don't fix it

Perception plays a crucial role in human interactions, especially in the beginning. Anyone who's polished their image in order to make a positive first impression knows it. In the age of social media, putting one's best foot forward can even lead to the "augmented reality" of online personas that stretch the truth. Everyone wants to project their best image and many of our interactions with government, nonprofit and corporations are limited to what they tells us, until certain facts are unveiled.

Uber's very public introspection may not have happened if it weren't for Susan Fowler's revealing blogpost. It's safe to contend that the internal investigation, followed by the damning report that ultimately lead to Travis Kalanick's dismissal as CEO revealed few new facts to management. The public scrutiny and its potential impact on profit simply made it harder for them keep on looking the other way. Based on the petition that some employees circulated for Kalanick's reinstatement , the new leadership will face an uphill battle in their attempt to turn the company around. The ends won't stop justifying the means overnight, but it remains possible.

Self improvement equals better organizations

Humans are the ultimate work in progress, imperfect people make imperfect families, organizations and societies. Regardless of the sector to which they belong, organizations are as good as their people. We've all had moments when we didn't like our reflection in the mirror. Nevertheless, we must be willing to take an honest look at ourselves so that we can find the right balance between our convictions and our ability to learn from constructive criticism. While we may not be able to achieve perfection, self-improvement is within our reach, and that's a good place to start.