10 Questions to Ask Your CEO to Understand the Company Culture

An Unconventional List of Questions to Help Uncover Deeper Truths

As an HR leader or manager, it's important to understand the driving factors for your company's culture. While traditional questions can provide valuable insights, asking unconventional questions can often uncover deeper truths about the culture of an organization. Here are 10 unconventional questions every leader should ask their CEO to gain a deeper understanding of what values and beliefs the company holds:

1. What's the craziest idea you've ever had for the company?

Asking the CEO about their most audacious idea for the company can provide insights into the company's culture. It can reveal whether the company is open to experimentation and what kind of risks the company is willing to take. It can also shed light on the CEO's vision for the company's future.

2. If the company was a character in a movie, who would it be and why?

Asking for a movie character that represents the company can be an unconventional way to understand the company's culture. The CEO's answer can reveal the company's personality, values, and how it operates. It can also help HR leaders to understand how the company is perceived in the industry and what kind of reputation it has among its stakeholders.

3. What's the biggest lesson you've learned from a failure?

Asking the CEO about their biggest failure and the lessons learned from it can give an understanding of the company's attitude towards failure. It can provide insights into the company's culture of accountability and learning from mistakes. HR leaders can use this information to create a culture of continuous improvement and help team members embrace failure as an opportunity for growth.

4. What's the company's most unusual tradition?

Every company has its own set of traditions, some of which may be unusual or unexpected. Asking about the company's most unusual tradition can provide insights into the company's culture, values, and how it operates. It can also help HR leaders to understand how the company's culture is passed down from generation to generation and how it has evolved over time.

5. If you could change one thing about the company's culture, what would it be?

Asking the CEO about the one thing they would like to change about the company's culture can provide insights into the company's values and areas of improvement. It can also give HR leaders a starting point to create a more positive culture. This question can help HR leaders to understand the CEO's priorities for the company's culture and identify areas for improvement.

6. What's the funniest thing that has happened in the company's history?

Asking for the funniest moment in the company's history can reveal the company's sense of humor and how it deals with difficult situations. It can provide insights into the company's culture of innovation and creativity. Additionally, it can help HR leaders to create a positive and fun work environment that fosters creativity and innovation.

7. If the company was a car, what type of car would it be and why?

Asking for a car that represents the company can be an unconventional way to understand the company's culture. The CEO's answer can reveal the company's values, personality, and how it operates. It can also help HR leaders to understand how the company is perceived in the industry and what kind of reputation it has among its stakeholders.

8. What's the company's most controversial decision?

Asking the CEO about the company's most controversial decision can provide insights into the company's values and how it handles difficult situations. It can also give HR leaders an understanding of the company's culture of transparency and accountability. HR leaders can use this information to create a culture of trust and transparency that fosters open communication and collaboration.

9. What's the most important thing you want employees to know about the company?

Asking the CEO about the most important thing they want employees to know about the company can give insights into the company's values and priorities. It can also help HR leaders to align their HR practices with the company's overall goals. This question can help HR leaders to create a culture of purpose and meaning that inspires employees to do their best work.

10. If the company was a city, which one would it be and why?

Asking for a city that represents the company can be an unconventional way to understand the company's culture. The CEO's answer can reveal the company's values, personality, and how it operates. It can also help HR leaders to understand how the company is perceived in the industry and by its customers. This question can help HR leaders to create a culture that is more in tune with the company's identity and values.

Conclusion

Asking unconventional questions to your CEO can help you as an HR leader to fully understand the driving factors for your company's culture. It will enable you to create HR practices and programs that align with the company's goals and values, and ultimately contribute to a successful and thriving workplace. By taking an unconventional approach to understanding your company's culture, you can help create a more engaged, motivated, and productive workforce that will drive the success of your organization.