Why Netflix thrives with fewer policies than you

Last month, I walked into my dad’s office to find the team had rearranged the entire workspace without approval.

My first instinct? Panic.

We had carefully designed floor plans gathering dust in a folder somewhere. But as I watched people collaborating in ways they never had before, I realized something powerful was happening.

Even at El Mejor, I once believed culture meant documented processes and permission structures. Our handbook grew thicker each week. Yet despite our best intentions, innovation slowed and energy drained.

Then we tried something counterintuitive. We started breaking rules.

Not all rules are created equal. Some exist from isolated incidents ("Remember when Philip ordered that expensive coffee beans from brazil?"). Others from fear rather than wisdom. The most damaging rules replace trust with rigid processes.

Strong cultures need fewer formal policies. Netflix famously operates with minimal formal rules, instead investing in hiring responsible people and creating clear values. When we stopped requiring three approvals for every decision, people started solving problems instead of navigating bureaucracy.

The most powerful rules aren't written down at all. They're embedded in stories and norms.

We now celebrate when someone bends a process to better serve a customer. These stories travel farther than any policy manual.

But breaking rules constructively requires clarity:

• Does it serve our mission and values, not just individual convenience?

• Are we transparent about why we're making an exception?

• Do we take responsibility for outcomes, not just actions?

When leaders model thoughtful rule-breaking, magic happens. Teams shift from permission-seeking to accountability-embracing. People focus on results rather than perfect procedural compliance.

Your brand works the same way. The strongest brands aren't built on rigid marketing playbooks, but on cultural foundations that naturally express your values.

Your culture is your brand engine. Are your rules fueling it or stalling it? Want to build a brand that closes sales before your team walks in the door?

»» Check out The Brand Engine, prices go up this weekend!

Until tomorrow,
— shashank

Modernize Out Of Home with AdQuick

AdQuick unlocks the benefits of Out Of Home (OOH) advertising in a way no one else has. Approaching the problem with eyes to performance, created for marketers and creatives with the engineering excellence you’ve come to expect for the internet.

You can learn more at www.AdQuick.com