An Everyone Culture: Becoming a Deliberately Developmental Organization
by Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey · 2016
In a nutshell
By Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey (2016, Harvard Business Review Press), this book studies companies that build employee growth directly into daily operations rather than treating development as a separate HR program, arguing this unlocks far more potential.
Overview
Harvard researchers Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey published An Everyone Culture in 2016 through Harvard Business Review Press, studying companies they call 'Deliberately Developmental Organizations.'
Key Ideas
- Most employees spend significant energy hiding weaknesses and managing impressions — a huge hidden cost.
- A 'Deliberately Developmental Organization' builds growth into daily routines, not just annual reviews.
- Treating errors and vulnerabilities as growth opportunities improves both people and results.
- Feedback should be frequent, direct, and embedded in regular work, not occasional.
- Leaders must redefine their own roles around supporting others' growth.
Best For
Founders designing a company culture that intentionally develops people as they scale.
Reference
An Everyone Culture: Becoming a Deliberately Developmental Organization — publisher / official page. Summary adapted from the Awesome Startup Books collection.
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