How can we foster a culture of mutual empathy, integrity, and respect?

Observing from afar what is happening at Basecamp has been a somewhat confusing experience for me. As someone who is striving to build a people-first organization driven by purpose, I find myself looking up to companies like Basecamp.

I don’t know the specific details and I don’t pretend to understand the thought and intention that went into these recent decisions.

One thing is clear to me, though: rather than establishing rules for how employees should relate to one another or what they can discuss, surely the best approach is to encourage a culture of mutual empathy and integrity and respect. Then, no matter what the water cooler conversations drift to, there will be healthy discussion and people will feel included—even if opinions differ.

Surely this is how we foster acceptance and understanding of others’ differences and how we grow stronger together.