Potlucks and Culture Vultures

Don't make everyone else do the work, ok?

I posted this today on LinkedIn to experiment with “normal” business writing. In trying to broaden my audience, I realize that not everyone, wants to hear a Ripe Olde Tale of Ye ServitheNow the Days of Yore. Or do they? We’ll see. Any feedback on this one appreciated.

While everyone enjoys a great company culture, the number of contributors is often much smaller than those who benefit. The best cultures happen when everyone pitches in.

At a small company I worked at years ago, we had regular potluck lunches. People brought in their crockpots and foil trays of homemade specialties. If they were pressed for time, they'd grab something from the store on the way to work. Usually, we ended up with more desserts than anything, but no one ever complained.

Potlucks became a cornerstone of our company’s culture. There’s something magical about them—the paper plates, the crazy mix of food—it’s like being transported out of the office and into a backyard picnic. Conversations flowed differently, and for a moment, we weren’t just colleagues but friends.

Everyone at our small company participated in the potlucks—except for  a guy I’ll call Chuck, who worked in data entry. Chuck was always first in line, beaming as he piled his plate high and even came back for seconds. But no one ever remembered Chuck bringing anything to share.

One day, as we lined up for food, someone in the back made a snide remark, “Hey, Chuck, what’d you bring?” The smile vanished from Chuck’s face. I’d never seen anyone look so crushed. He quickly retreated to his cubicle, and suddenly the mood of the potluck shifted.

Afterward, I noticed Chuck hadn’t returned for food, so I went to check on him. He was glued to his monitor, typing away. “Hey,” I said. No response. “Not hungry?” I asked. Tears welled up in his eyes. “What’s wrong?” I pressed. “No one told me,” he said quietly. “You didn’t figure out the whole potluck thing on your own?” I asked, confused.

“I’m so stupid,” he muttered.

"Do the math, Chuck. If nobody brought food, it'd be like showing up to a pizza party and the delivery guy never comes. But if everyone chips in, it's like having a never-ending buffet. Which I know you dream of most nights"

Chuck cracked a small smile then we both laughed. At the next potluck, guess who brought the most food? It was almost embarrassing seeing Chuck walk in with two overflowing grocery bags of food and goodies.

Now think about you and your company. Do you enjoy the culture? If the answer is yes, ask yourself—what are you doing to help build and sustain it? Is there someone you know who always organizes events? Could they use a hand? Maybe there’s an activity you’ve been thinking about that your coworkers would love. Make it happen.

Culture isn’t just about enjoying the benefits; it’s about contributing to them. It’s about reinforcing company values in your work and interactions. As Stephen Jay Gould said, every complex system is built on countless small steps, but it can unravel with a single mistake. Culture is like that, but it can also fade slowly, almost without notice, if we aren’t careful.

At ServiceNow, our culture is rooted in the values set by our founder. We’ve been fortunate along the way to have more leaders who embrace and support these values. We invest in social events, community outreach, and shared activities because we believe that when we all do good, our culture thrives.

Chuck learned that enjoying a great culture comes with responsibility. Make sure your company’s culture stays strong by actively driving the values and activities that benefit everyone.

Key Takeaways:

• Passive Beneficiaries vs. Active Contributors: It’s easy to enjoy a great culture, but real value comes from helping build and protect it.

• Comfort vs. Responsibility: Just enjoying the culture can lead to complacency; contributing keeps it alive.

• Challenge to Action: You benefit from your company’s culture—so play a part in making it better.