Culture is a set of shared values that a group of people holds. These values affect how you think and act but also how you judge others

What is culture?

Some cultures think of time sequentially – as a linear commodity to “spend,” “save,” or “waste.” Other cultures view time synchronically – as a constant flow to be experienced in the moment, and as a force that cannot be contained or controlled.Whether time is perceived as a commodity or a constant determines the meaning and value of being “on time.”

Cultures are either sequential or synchronic

High-context cultures e.g. Mediterranean, Slav, Central European, are understood through context, nonverbal cues, and between-the-lines interpretation of what is actually said. Here, the meanings are created often through what is not said e.g. in body language, silences and pauses, relationships and empathy.Low-context cultures e.g. most Germanic and English-speaking countries, expect messages to be explicit and specific. Here, the emphasis is on sending and receiving accurate messages directly, and by being precise with spoken or written words.

Cultures are either high-context or low-context

An affective culture is defined by the ability to readily show your emotions whereas a neutral culture keep their emotions in neutral and they do not show their feelings, but keep them carefully controlled and subdued.

Cultures are either affective or neutral

 Image via Wikipedia Business leaders know that intercultural savvy is vitally important – not just because they have to deal increasingly with globalization, but also because the work force within their own national borders is growing more and more diverse. Culture is, basically, a set of shared values that a group [...]

Comms

How Culture Controls Communication

Backed by the Financial Times, Sifted publishes news and views across the entire European startup ecosystem. From funding rounds to thought-provoking commentary from some of the startup world’s most successful founders, Sifted is the place to go to find upcoming trends, hard-hitting startup journalism, and excellent think-pieces.

Best for the latest European startup news: Sifted

Startups Magazine is a digital and bi-monthly print magazine that offers great coverage and high-quality news stories from entrepreneurs at tech startups from all sectors. Articles cover a range of topics from funding to HR to diversity and thought leadership pieces.

Best for events and panels: Startups Magazine

Startups is aimed not just at tech startups, but at small businesses of any description. Based entirely online, Startups have an entire section dedicated to starting and growing a business, including articles on strategy, building a website, and marketing.

Best for small business advice: Startups

Maddyness is the place to get the latest news, views, insights and opinions on the ecosystem of startups, entrepreneurs and innovators.

Best for insights from fellow founders: Maddyness

Courier magazine aims to help readers “work better and live smarter”. They print six issues a year, with each one focusing on a specific sector and featuring inspirational founder stories and practical advice on how to crack the market yourself.

Best for inspiring stories and ideas: Courier

Real business is an all-round read for startup founders across all sectors. The UK based title’s news coverage gives a broad overview of current affairs and issues affecting businesses: from updates on government policy to the state of the property market.

Best all rounder: Real Business 

If you’re a startup founder, you’ve probably heard of sites like Entrepreneur and Forbes. But

6 publications every startup founder should read

Internal communications refers to the method of keeping employees informed about the goings-on of the business.&nbsp;Good internal comms create a shared understanding of company goals, values, and guidelines.&nbsp;Internal comms help keep employees up-to-date on a company’s latest initiatives as well as establishing clear communications among different departments.

Definition: Internal Comms

Business communication is information shared both internally and externally by a company, about the company.&nbsp;This could take the form of:<ul><li>&nbsp;an all-hands meeting</li><li>messages sent via an employee-engagement app, e.g. Slack</li><li>emails</li></ul>

Business comms

Internal communicators can connect people together in the business and help with communicating the following topics:<ul><li>The employee experience</li><li>Company-wide business goals</li><li>Changes related to digital transformation</li><li>Any new initiatives, executive hires, programs, or projects</li></ul>

What can internal comms communicate?

Good internal comms helps employees feel connected to the company—all the way to decisions, initiatives, programs, departments, and executive messages.&nbsp;These connections are vital to helping employees understand why their managers are making decisions.When employees are given the tools to understand what’s driving those decisions and changes, they are more likely to be receptive and engaged.

What is the purpose of internal comms

Dive into what internal communication means today. Get the trends, best practices, & the strategies you need to drive successful change.

What is Internal Communications in 2021?

Physicist Albert-László Barabási, in a TED talk, shared his thinking on the maths that goes into thinking about success. &nbsp;He came up with a simple equation:&nbsp;S = QrS stands for success, Q is that person's ability (to execute an idea) and r is the value of that idea.

The maths behind success

Have you heard of the saying: and if it doesn't work the first time, try and try again?&nbsp;Although perseverance may be seen as essential for success, Barabási argues that personal quality matters. The hard truth is that, however long you persevere and keep pushing the rock up a hill (think Sisyphus) "if you don't have what it takes, you just don't have what it takes".&nbsp;This view seems to run in contradistinction to the 10,000 hours rule, where you put in 10k hours of practice and you become an expert in a given field.

The hard truth: personal quality matters

Although it may sound all doom and gloom, knowing where your talents are, and being self-aware of your strengths, grants you the power to invest your energies into an activity that will:<ul><li>&nbsp;provide a higher rate of reward</li><li>be a better fit </li></ul>

The gift of self-awareness

"I thought I wanted to be a scientist when I went to Princeton...halfway through, I figured out I wasn't smart enough to be a physicist."

Those who are super successful in their chosen domain accept this truth.

The Brutal Truth About Success Jeff Bezos and Reese Witherspoon Understand That You Don't

Social Learning tools definition: Social learning tools are tools that use <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_software">social software</a> and/or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media">social media</a> to make possible the process of learning through either the interaction between individuals and interactions between pieces of software.

Definition: Social learning tools

Social learning tools aid the learning process by helping to create connections between <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learner">learners</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teacher">t</a>eachers and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information">information</a>.

Why do they work?

<ol><li>Technology is a feature of social learning tools. Technology allows for physical and cognitive learning. </li><li>Interactions between users are key to social learning tools. These interactions should encourage both educational and social connections. </li><li>Trust is arguably the most important feature. Users should feel that the tool is trustworthy, and that content that is created through the tool is valuable and insightful. </li></ol>

Features of social learning tools

Social learning tools - Wikipedia

Do you want to make it in business? Think you can do it without reading? Think again.Here's a stash with the top 8 business magazines for all you budding business brains who want to make it in the world of business.

The Top Leaders Are Big Readers

HBR is a bi-monthly publication brimming with top business research.&nbsp;Harvard is home to one of the best business schools in the world, so its materials make great reading for juniors starting out and professionals at the peak of their career.&nbsp;Topics include:<ul><li>management and leadership</li><li>marketing and organization</li><li>long-term strategy &amp; more</li></ul>

Best all-rounder: Harvard Business Review

Money magazine is the best you get to gain a general understanding to all thing finance. They also create annual lists of “America's Best Places to Live,” and several other “Best Of” lists, e.g. best places to travel in the US or best colleges.&nbsp;

Best for money: Money Magazine

Bloomberg Businessweek is, you guessed it, a weekly magazine produced by Bloomberg, the media giant providing financial software tools such as an analytics and equity trading platform.&nbsp;But be warned, topics are highly specialised, ranging from business productivity, political campaigns and cryptocurrency.

Best for business: Bloomberg Businessweek

Forbes is home to 'The Billionaires List', 'World’s 100 Most Powerful Women List' and hardcore journalism. Their magazine is published eight times a year with topics on business, finance, marketing and lifestyle. It's a must for all business brains out there.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The best for lists: Forbes

Wired is a monthly magazine that focuses on the role of technology in our lives, and its evolution.&nbsp; If you're into science, tech and culture, and are a proud podster, check out its award-winning weekly podcast discussing NFT's, crypto, and tech predictions.

The best for tech: Wired  

A must for all business owners and start-up founders.&nbsp;Founded by an MIT trained engineer, it has now become an industry leader in all things small business and startup tech.Inc also produces an annual list of the fastest growing private companies in the United States and provides special reports on topics such as the best places to work as well as daily news on money, tech, and management.&nbsp;

Best for start-ups: Inc

If you are serious about investing and finance as a career, you should read Fortune's Investor’s Guide.&nbsp;Inside, you can read articles on investment and finance, all presented in an easily accessible format, as well as articles on business news. For that reason, Fortune provides a great springboard into the world of investment.&nbsp;

Best for investors: Fortune

A weekly magazine with a global outlook, with topics ranging from the political landscape to how to make the most of your hard-earned cash.&nbsp;Comprising of shorter and long-form essays, The Economist is entertaining reading for those with a passion for the world around them.&nbsp;

Best for economy: The Economist

Read reviews and buy the best business magazines including Harvard Business Review, Bloomberg Businessweek, Forbes, Wired and more.

The 8 Best Business Magazines

In the early days of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO, instilled the following rule: <ul><li>"every internal team should be small enough that it can be fed with two pizzas"</li></ul>He wasn't skimping on catering - instead, he purposefully wanted to create teams that were efficient.

The Two-Pizza Rule 

Smaller teams are more efficient. Why? 1. They spend less time keeping on top of their timetables 2. They spend less time communicating ot others about new events and keeping people up-to-date3. They focus on work, and they do it quickly. After all, too many cooks spoil the broth.

Why the Two-Pizza Rule Works

Jeff Bezos’s firm is good at selling things to shoppers, but that is the tip of its commercial iceberg 

How Culture Controls Communication

6 publications every startup founder should read

What is Internal Communications in 2021?

The Brutal Truth About Success Jeff Bezos and Reese Witherspoon Understand That You Don't

Social learning tools - Wikipedia

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