S02E19 Return Joy to the Workplace, with Rich Sheridan

Rethink Culture

"We founded the company with a crazy big mission. We wanted to end human suffering in the world as it relates to technology, by returning joy to both technology and to the teams that design it and build it… I had this picture in my head of, what do I want my work life to look like? And I thought… a big opening collaborative work environment, a place filled with human energy, a lot of collaboration, doing interesting, new, innovative things together, accomplishing big goals, not as individuals, but as a team."

S02E19 of the Rethink Culture podcast shines the spotlight on Richard Sheridan, founder and CEO of Menlo Innovations, a Michigan-based software company where he is also known as the Chief Storyteller. Rich is the author of two books, Joy, Inc. and Chief Joy Officer. Menlo Innovations stands out for its unique culture, attracting around 3,000 visitors annually who come to observe it firsthand.

Rich discusses the early influences that sparked his passion for creating joy, which became the foundation for Menlo Innovations. He recounts how winning a programming contest during high school led to his first job as a programmer and how he later redesigned the culture at Interface Systems. Rich also describes the pivotal moment when the internet bubble burst, which spurred his journey into entrepreneurship and the founding of Menlo Innovations. Throughout the interview, Rich emphasizes the value of intentionality in creating a culture, collaborative work, joy in the workplace, and service to others.

The podcast is produced by Rethink Culture (rethinkculture.co). Our Culture Health Check helps you turn your culture into a competitive advantage, with data.

Production, video, and audio editing by Evangelia Alexaki of Musicove Productions.

Listen to this episode to discover:
• What a workplace culture focused on joy looks like.
• How books on teamwork, management, design thinking, and leadership led Rich to a breakthrough in organizing people effectively.
• How rethinking a rejected promotion enabled Rich to transform the culture at Interface Systems as VP of Product Development.
• The contrasting reactions to his innovative teamwork methods.
• Rich's perspective on intentional culture and Menlo's unique hiring and onboarding processes.
• Menlo Innovations' day-long collaborative teamwork and the interview process for finding people who enjoy it.
• The importance of communicating core values from the initial interview.
• The benefits of working collaboratively in pairs across a company.

Further resources:
• Rich Sheridan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/menloprez/
• Joy, Inc.: How We Built a Workplace People Love, by Richard Sheridan: https://www.amazon.com/Joy-Inc-Built-Workplace-People/dp/1591847125
• Chief Joy Officer: How Great Leaders Elevate Human Energy and Eliminate Fear, by Richard Sheridan: https://www.amazon.com/Chief-Joy-Officer-Leaders-Eliminate/dp/0735218226
• Extreme Programming Explained: Embrace Change, 2nd Edition, by Kent Beck with Cynthia Andres: https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Programming-Explained-Embrace-Change/dp/0321278658