Googleyness’ Redefined: Sundar Pichai’s 6 Pillars

Introduction to Googleyness and Sundar Pichai’s Clarification

The article opens with the news that Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, has acknowledged that the term “Googleyness” had become too broad and vague over time. As a result, Pichai clarified what the term means for the company. This clarification came in response to increasing internal discussions and confusion about the application and meaning of the term. This clarification was reported by Business Insider, signaling that Google was reassessing how it uses “Googleyness” in its hiring practices and internal culture.

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What is Googleyness?

“Googleyness” is a term used within Google to describe a set of qualities or characteristics that make a candidate or employee a good fit for the company’s culture and work environment. It plays an essential role in how Google assesses potential hires, ensuring that they align with the company’s ethos and values. These traits are considered highly desirable, indicating that the person will thrive in Google’s unique work environment.

However, while the term has been an important part of Google’s hiring process for years, it has always remained somewhat ambiguous. Its definition has evolved over time, which has led to the need for a more clear and specific definition.

Sundar Pichai’s Definition of Googleyness

In response to the broad nature of the term, Sundar Pichai provided a more structured and concise explanation of “Googleyness” during a recent company meeting. He outlined six key characteristics that define a Google employee, emphasizing both the company’s values and the qualities they look for in hires:

1. Mission First:
   Google employees should prioritize the company’s mission — organizing the world’s information and making it universally accessible and useful. The mission should drive actions and decisions.
2. Make Helpful Things:
   Employees should focus on creating products or services that are helpful to others. This reflects Google’s long-standing emphasis on offering value to users and solving real-world problems.
3. Be Bold & Responsible:
   Employees are encouraged to be bold in their ideas and decisions but must do so with a sense of responsibility. Innovation should be paired with ethical considerations and accountability.
4. Stay Scrappy:
   The “scrappy” trait reflects a willingness to be resourceful, adaptable, and agile. This trait is a nod to Google’s early days when the company had to do a lot with limited resources. The idea is to stay creative and resilient, even as the company grows.
5. Hustle & Have Fun:
   Google encourages a balance of hard work and enjoyment. Employees should be passionate about their work and willing to put in the effort, but also maintain a sense of fun and creativity in what they do.
6. Team Google:
   Collaboration is key at Google. Employees are expected to work as a team, supporting one another and working toward collective goals rather than individual success.

These six points provide a more structured and actionable understanding of what Google looks for in candidates and employees. They outline not just skills and work ethic, but also attitudes and values that align with Google’s culture.