Zaremba and Lepisto discuss organizational culture
You’re awake and prepared for the week ahead. But instead of getting ready for the day and rushing to work to be at your desk at 8:01 a.m., you have the flexibility to decide what your morning looks like. You also have this flexibility in the afternoon, evening and, well, anytime. You belong to an organization that allows you to set your own expectations and work at your own pace.
Many people are drawn to this type of culture found at tech companies such as Facebook. While it may appeal to someone on the outside looking in, is this type of ambiguous work environment right for everyone? And if you’re working in an organization with this type of culture, how do you find the best way to be successful when you have more questions than answers?
Dr. Doug Lepisto, assistant professor of management, is teaching his students to be successful within ambiguous environments with the assurance that they’ll be able to confidently and successfully fit into any organizational culture they land in, post-graduation and beyond.
“It’s important for students to learn that there is not always going to a step-by-step guide on how to complete a project or assignment,” says Lepisto. “It’s a real skill to be able to move forward in new and uncertain situations. I want to give students insight into what that skill looks like, giving them tools for adapting and identifying a situation where they may not have specific direction as to how to proceed.”
Lepisto recently brought an expert to his organizational behavior class to give students more insight into adapting to ambiguous environments. “I wanted my students to get tactical ideas and close the gaps between theories we learn in class and what they look like in practical application,” Lepisto says.
The expert, Thomais Zaremba, is the global head of automotive strategy for Facebook and was happy to share her insights into leadership, how to succeed when the path forward is uncertain, organizational cultures and professional success. Here are some of her tips for students approaching their first careers and those who may take on roles where the position is self-directed with little guidance.
On finding your career path
Prior to working at Facebook, Zaremba spent 19 years at Ford, a job that took her straight from graduate school to where she is today. At Ford, she worked in a variety of positions, often switching roles every 12 to 18 months, something she says was invigorating and helped her learn about her passions within the organization and how she was developing as a professional. “It matters a great deal what you’re doing now. Where you end up doesn’t matter as much as who you’re becoming. You’re developing your own autonomy. Make purposeful decisions with your life. You’re in control. It took me awhile to learn that.”
On adapting to a company’s culture in a new role
“Seek to understand before seeking to be understood,” Zaremba says. Often, people want to rush into a company and prove themselves, but this may lead to missing out on cues that can help pinpoint a company’s culture, which can lead to better relationships and success in the organization. “Study the organization and its dynamics,” she says. “Purposefully find the areas where you can add value. Invest this time in yourself to study and come to the job in a much more informed way.” This approach helped Zaremba learn about Ford’s culture and leadership and helped her accomplish tasks and projects more efficiently.
On confidently finding your purpose in an ambiguous culture
When Zaremba left Ford to take on her current role at Facebook, she quickly learned that her job was to figure out her job, which meant she was in charge of setting her tasks and expectations with little outside influence. Zaremba’s advice to someone in a similar position? “You have to figure it out and just do it,” she says. “Never stop posing questions to yourself. Always ask yourself, ‘and then what, and then what?’ Be entrepreneurial in your thinking.”
On learning to take risks
At work, people are often afraid of making mistakes or being wrong. Zaremba reminded students that it’s okay to be wrong, as long as you can learn from it. “Take your objectives, your data and find out which direction you want to drive a project—then go,” she says. “You will receive feedback, test again, learn and iterate. This is important to learn coming out of school and into the workforce. You learn how to be wrong and then move on.” And the key to finding the confidence to be wrong once in awhile? “Resilience.” Zaremba emphasized that it’s okay to take risks, and when you get stuck on a project, continue to push forward even if that might be scary in the moment.
On uncertainty leading into confidence
Zaremba reminded students that it’s normal to feel apprehensive and nervous in new situations and during projects with a lack of direction but that the feeling doesn’t last forever. “Everyone feels that uncertainty and lack of confidence,” she says. “But then that switch flips, and your leadership style reveals itself. You realize you’re no longer trying to prove yourself, instead you are moving forward with confidence.”
Get comfortable being uncomfortable
During discussion and after class had concluded, students were buzzing with confidence that they too could adapt and find their success in any culture. And Lepisto was equally excited about Zaremba’s advice. “She really drove home the idea that people grow into the identity of being leaders,” he says. “How that growth takes place, how you become strong in your identity and the opportunities and responsibilities that come with being that person are all important things that students will learn about themselves throughout their careers if they can get comfortable being uncomfortable.”