Workplace Culture Essentials with Anupam Mittal

Workplace culture is more than just inspiring posters and lofty mission statements; it is an existence shaped by individuals and systems. This is the key message expressed by Anupam Mittal, the founder of People Group and Shaadi.com, in a recent post on LinkedIn that generated significant discussion across the platform.

Mittal stated, “Everyone claims that culture is everything.” Prospective employees often mention, “I am in search of the right culture,” while founders proclaim, “We are creating a robust culture.” However, when asked to define culture precisely, responses tend to go silent.

Drawing from his extensive experience, Mittal proposed a compelling equation: Culture = Operating Model × People Strategy. This formula underscores the idea that both structural elements and talent are vital. He explained, “If either element is absent, one has… essentially, zero culture.”

He continued to explain, “Exceptional individuals paired with ineffective systems result in chaos. Effective systems combined with unsuitable individuals lead to gridlock. True magic occurs only when both components align perfectly.”

Key Practices for Startups from Anupam Mittal

In particular, for startups, Mittal emphasised several strategies that proved effective for him:

• Regular cross-functional weekly meetings
• Transparent real-time business metrics shared across teams
• Emphasis on clarity rather than control, moving away from traditional reporting methods
• Implementation of Directly Responsible Individuals (DRIs) to prevent the dilution of accountability

While Mittal committed to addressing People Strategy in a subsequent post, this initial insight was sufficient to prompt reactions from various professionals who connected with his points.

Reactions to Mittal’s Insights

One user reflected on the differences in culture globally and how they relate to leadership styles, highlighting, “Most employees leave not due to salary but because of a toxic culture… Organizational culture is also location-specific.”

Another praised the clarity brought forth by Mittal, stating, “Culture is not just about posters — it involves lived actions and daily decisions. This insight cuts through the noise.”

A third individual contributed their own equation for a thriving culture, emphasising transparency, empathy, and balance: “Fast-paced and energetic but never stressful or toxic.”

Mittal’s straightforward perspective resonates deeply; in a corporate environment filled with ambiguous jargon, it is insights like these that remind organisations of the fundamental elements necessary for a thriving workplace culture.