CEO Washed Coffee Cups: A Leadership Lesson That Stuck
Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings shared a key leadership lesson learned when his then-CEO washed his coffee cups during their early startup days.
Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix, recounted a significant leadership lesson derived from his experience at an early-stage startup. At 28, Hastings was working at a 30-person tech company, and noticed his coffee cups were consistently reappearing clean. He had assumed the office janitor was responsible.
One morning, however, Hastings arrived at the office exceptionally early and discovered the CEO, Barry Plotkin, at the sink washing the cups. Plotkin explained that his actions were a way to show appreciation for Hastings' contributions. "You do so much for us, and this is the one thing I can do for you," Hastings recalled Plotkin saying.
This experience profoundly impacted Hastings, shaping his views on leadership. Despite the company eventually filing for bankruptcy, Hastings highlighted how his team was willing to follow Plotkin anywhere due to his servant-like approach. Hastings has spoken about this anecdote at events such as the Inc. 5000 conference.
Hastings advocates for a leadership style that balances service with strategy. He considers this lesson particularly relevant for founders who are hiring early-career talent.