# S2E46 How To Build A Workplace People Love |  Rich Sheridan

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2021-10-29
- Length: 1h 02m
- Episode: 46
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-10-29-s2e46-how-to-build-a-workplace-people-love-rich-sheridan
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/build-a-workplace-people-love-rich-sheridan

## Summary

Rich Sheridan, CEO and Chief Storyteller at Menlo Innovations, explains how he founded the custom software company to end human suffering in technology by returning joy to the workplace. He details Menlo's specific operational practices, including mandatory pairing, open office layouts without walls or desks, and the role of 'high-tech anthropologists' who observe users to ensure the team solves the actual problem rather than a perceived one. Sheridan contrasts this joy-based culture with fear-based management, arguing that transparency and collaboration eliminate the emergencies and rework that plague traditional engineering environments.

## Chapters

- [0:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-10-29-s2e46-how-to-build-a-workplace-people-love-rich-sheridan#t=35) Introduction and Rich Sheridan's Origin Story
- [6:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-10-29-s2e46-how-to-build-a-workplace-people-love-rich-sheridan#t=401) The Mission to End Human Suffering in Technology
- [9:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-10-29-s2e46-how-to-build-a-workplace-people-love-rich-sheridan#t=594) Menlo's Physical Environment and Pairing Culture
- [25:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-10-29-s2e46-how-to-build-a-workplace-people-love-rich-sheridan#t=1500) The Origin and Benefits of Pair Programming
- [31:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-10-29-s2e46-how-to-build-a-workplace-people-love-rich-sheridan#t=1906) Measuring Quality and Eliminating Emergencies
- [39:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-10-29-s2e46-how-to-build-a-workplace-people-love-rich-sheridan#t=2363) Fear-Based vs. Joy-Based Leadership
- [43:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-10-29-s2e46-how-to-build-a-workplace-people-love-rich-sheridan#t=2613) Transparency and Financial Openness
- [46:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-10-29-s2e46-how-to-build-a-workplace-people-love-rich-sheridan#t=2802) Virtual Tours and Remote Work Adaptations
- [53:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-10-29-s2e46-how-to-build-a-workplace-people-love-rich-sheridan#t=3224) High-Tech Anthropologists and Solving the Real Problem

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Menlo Innovations (company)
- Joy Inc.: How We Built a Workplace People Love (other)
- Chief Joy Officer: How Great Leaders Elevate Human Energy and Eliminate Fear (other)
- Simon Sinek (other)
- The Infinite Game (other)
- Kent Beck (other)
- Extreme Programming Explained (other)
- W. Edwards Deming (other)
- Tom Peters (other)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Cultural Idiosyncrasies](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2024-04-03-cultural-idiosyncrasies) (Oxide and Friends)
- [Mr. Leventhal, Come here I want to see you](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-05-04-mr-leventhal-come-here-i-want-to-see-you) (Oxide and Friends)
- [78: Happy Cows](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-11-25-78-happy-cows) (Embedded.fm)
- [Hiring Processes with Gergely Orosz](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2023-11-07-hiring-processes-with-gergely-orosz) (Oxide and Friends)
- [297: Mice to Do My Bidding](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-08-02-297-mice-to-do-my-bidding) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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