Module 01 · Template
Culture Doc Template
A living document defining how you work, the behaviours you reward, and the behaviours you won't tolerate. Keep it short, specific and honest.
Core Values
Choose 3–5 behaviours that genuinely matter to how your company operates. Avoid generic words unless you can explain what they mean in practice.
Example
Bias to Action
We would rather make a good decision quickly, learn from it and adjust than wait for perfect information.
In practice: Engineers are expected to ship sensible solutions without waiting for approval on every minor decision.
Value #1
Value #2
Value #3
Value #4
Value #5
0 of 5 values started
Anti-Values
What behaviours are incompatible with the company you're trying to build? Use behaviours rather than types of people where possible.
Example
Clock-watching can accidentally communicate “we expect unpaid overwork.” If the intended value is ownership, responsiveness, or output over rigid hours, say that more precisely in your core values above.
Other examples: Brilliant jerks / Hidden agendas / Complacency / Excessive politics / Building for the sake of building.
Anti-Value #1
Anti-Value #2
Anti-Value #3
0 of 3 anti-values started
How We Work
Define the practical realities of working at your company. These categories force founders to describe things candidates actually want to know.
Example
Default async over meetings / Direct feedback quickly / Document important decisions / High autonomy with high accountability.
0 of 7 categories started
Culture in Hiring
For each important value, ask these four questions. Use this section as a reusable interview rubric.
The Honest Trade-Off
What's true about working here that some excellent candidates might not like?
Tip: Your answers are saved locally in this browser. Come back to refine the doc as your company evolves. Share it with candidates early — it screens out mismatches and attracts people who genuinely fit.