Ask Me Anything
One year ago I made a promise to our company; We are going to talk about hard things.
Our teams had made it clear that they didn’t trust leadership, they didn’t think that our leaders were addressing the right issues, and they wanted to know EXACTLY where we’re heading as a company.
The solution came in the form of a weekly meeting — Ask Me Anything. Every Friday at 11:30, our team gathers from around the country on video. Anyone can submit their question in advance through an anonymous form. I’m the only one who see the form, and the questions.
The framework is simple:
- Ask Anything. I want to talk about what the team wants to talk about.
- If a question gets asked I will read it.
- If a question is read, I will answer it.
Throughout the year I’ve received feedback from people across the organization. This 30 minute window is one of the most helpful, and favorite meetings of the week. It has become one of my favorite times too.
Because of the AMA I feel more connected to our team at every level. We’re also talking about things that matter. Our teams are incredibly insightful. They are also fearless in their questions.
As the conversation continues throughout the year, trust grows across our teams. Some of the best things about the AMA, which I never expected, are the ongoing conversations that begin to sprout up and propagate through the organization. We’ve talked about benefits, diversity, finances, and product vision.
Final thought: This is much more of a two-way conversation than I ever expected. While everyone wants to know what the CEO is thinking, the answers exist within our teams. I’m so thankful for our team and the people that make our company amazing.
We’re doing great things…and we’re just getting started.
