Treat communication as a performance metric, not just a courtesy
Codify the expectation that failing to communicate about work in progress is a failure of performance, not just a communication lapse. This shifts the culture from meetings-as-accountability to documentation-as-accountability, enabling async-first organizations.
When to use
When building a remote-first or async-first company where traditional hallway conversations and in-person oversight are not available, and you need to maintain accountability without constant meetings.
Don't do this
Treating communication as optional or a personality trait rather than a core job requirement. Also: using meetings as a proxy for communication instead of written documentation.
1 Founder Who Did This
Created a company memo stating 'A lack of communication is a lack of performance,' making written updates part of the performance evaluation framework for all team members.