Speaker: Russell Eubanks
Event: BSides Augusta
Date: October 3, 2022
YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmPQl1wh1kk
In his engaging talk at BSides Augusta 2022, Russell Eubanks, Managing Partner at Cyverity and former CISO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta explored actionable ways to fix organizational culture. By weaving personal anecdotes with practical advice, Russell shared three key steps—and a bonus tip—to foster a positive and impactful workplace culture. Here’s a summary of his talk.
The Importance of Culture
Russell opened with a reflection on his career transition to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta in 2015. The key question he asked before accepting the role wasn’t about compensation or benefits but about culture: “What’s it like to work here?”
This focus on culture underscores its significance not just for personal fulfillment but also for organizational success. Culture shapes how employees connect with their roles, teams, and the organization’s mission. Eubanks believes that culture is not fixed; leaders and teams have the power to mold it intentionally.
Step 1: Master Your Elevator Speech
When asked, “What do you do here?” many cybersecurity professionals default to technical jargon. Russell advocates a more strategic approach: translate your role into the language of business.
Example: If you worked at TED, whose mission is “to spread ideas,” your response as a CISO could be, “I help spread ideas securely.” By aligning your role with the organization’s mission, you make your contributions relatable to non-technical stakeholders.
Actionable Tip:
- Learn your company’s mission statement and values.
- Craft a concise elevator speech that ties your work directly to those principles.
Step 2: Conduct a Calendar Audit
Russell highlighted the common pitfall of being busy without being effective. Endless meetings, often lacking clear agendas, can consume valuable time and derail focus.
Practical Advice:
- Decline meetings without agendas or clear purposes.
- Use a “tentative” response to meeting invites and request clarity on your expected contributions before committing.
- Introduce time constraints to your schedule, such as 45-minute meetings instead of an hour, to create space for deep work.
Actionable Tip:
- Audit your calendar weekly and eliminate low-value activities. Focus on tasks that only you can do as a leader.
Step 3: Burn “Free Fuel”
Russell introduced the concept of burning “free fuel”: appreciation, recognition, and encouragement (A.R.E.), as mentioned by Lee Cockerell. While traditional fuel like resources and tools comes at a cost, free fuel builds team morale and strengthens relationships at no monetary expense.
Examples of Free Fuel in Action:
- Start your day by walking around and checking in with your team. Ask questions like, “What are you working on?” or “How can I help?”
- Catch people doing something right and acknowledge it publicly.
- Focus on celebrating small wins, especially for newer team members who may struggle to navigate the organization.
Actionable Tip:
- Dedicate 10 minutes each day to provide meaningful recognition or encouragement to colleagues.
Bonus Tip: Schedule Regular Reflection
The final piece of advice was deceptively simple but powerful: schedule time for reflection. By setting a recurring calendar reminder, you create space to assess your progress and implement cultural changes consistently.
Call to Action: Set a weekly reminder to revisit these strategies. Whether it’s refining your elevator speech, auditing your calendar, or practicing A.R.E., what gets scheduled gets done.
Conclusion
Russell’s talk offered a roadmap for improving organizational culture, emphasizing the importance of intentionality, clarity, and human connection. By learning to speak the language of business, prioritizing impactful work, and fostering a supportive environment, you can transform your team’s culture starting today.
Want more insights from Russell Eubanks? Watch the full talk here: 3 Steps to Fix Your Culture Today.