Begin With WE – Book Review

Author: Kyle McDowell

Category: Leadership

Audience: Leaders, Investors, Team Managers

Overview: Core Values vs Core Principles - an exploration of how embracing principles over practices can build a lasting culture of excellence.

This book’s description is what got me to read it - 10 Principles for Building and Sustaining a Culture of Excellence.

One definition of principles I ran across was - a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning.

I did a lot of training and coaching in my earlier days, and I early on I decided to teach the principles of my subject matter. The principles of a concept are the foundation of learning.

They help make behavioral change a little easier.

Because the tools may change, the latest and popular thoughts or modes of thinking may change, but the principles remain untouched. They guide when it seems something or someone is lost.

And this is exactly what this book is about.

Principles as Cultural Currency - McDowell captures this beautifully:

"The 10 WEs are not the ten commandments...the WEs establish a common framework and cultural currency—a currency that has the same value, whether used by the new intern or the most seasoned executive."

I loved the term cultural currency. Many organizations tout core values or strategies - but how many have principles that truly guide everyday behaviors and decisions?

Here are the 10 WEs defined in the book:

1. WE Do the Right Thing. Always.

2. WE Lead by Example

3. WE Say What WE’re Going to Do. Then WE DO It.  

4. WE Take Action.

5. WE Own Our Mistakes.

6. WE Pick Each Other Up

7. WE Measure Ourselves by Outcomes. Not Activity.

8. WE Challenge Each Other. Diplomatically.

9. WE Embrace Challenge

10. WE Obsess Over Details. Details Matter A Lot.

Short. Clear. Action-oriented.

Bringing Principles to Life

The book goes into detail about how these principles were applied in an organization the author stepped in to lead. He does a great job of reflecting on the challenges and approaches he and employees faced before and after he introduced the principles.

Although much of his reflection is about ‘why’ they are the currency the organization runs on, there was another key part of the book I liked. They were formatted blocks of ideas found in each chapter explaining what happens when the principles are consistently and actively used. 

Final Takeaway

The concept of principles isn't new, but McDowell’s approach shines a spotlight on the specific behaviors needed to create a resilient, successful culture - for organizations of any size.

Definitely worth the read to not only understand these principles but to learn how to make them an active, daily force in any organization.

He suggests that you:

• Choose wisely

• Choose courageously

• Choose authentically

• Choose to begin with WE.

I’ll leave you with a quote from James Clear, author of ‘Atomic Habits’..."First principles thinking is the act of boiling a process down to the fundamental parts that you know are true and building up from there."

Can you identify key principles within your own organization? It’s worth the time and effort.

Cynthia Kyriazis is the Chief Experience Officer at The Culture Think Tank. Her experience includes executive coaching, consulting, and training. Book a 15-minute chat to discuss your people, performance, or profit challenges.