Google has laid off 10 percent of its management staff as part of an ongoing effort to improve efficiency and redefine its corporate culture, specifically the concept of “Googleyness.” CEO Sundar Pichai announced the decision at a company-wide meeting on Wednesday, explaining that the cuts would impact manager, director and vice president-level positions. While some employees will transition to individual contributor positions, others face complete role eliminations.
What is 'Googleyness'?
“Googleyness” is a term Google uses to describe the traits and qualities that make an individual a good fit for the company. However, the definition of the word has evolved over time. Initially, it was a broad concept that assessed whether a candidate would fit well into Google's culture. Historically, “Googleyness” has been linked to qualities such as intellectual humility, comfort with ambiguity, and a sense of fun.
In 2017, Google refined its hiring process by updating the definition of “Googleyness.” Previously, this term was loosely defined and often used interchangeably with “cultural fit,” which was a key factor in decision making. However, Google realized that equating Googleyness with cultural fit could lead to bias, favoring candidates with similar backgrounds or perspectives. This could result in a homogenous workplace, without diversity in race, gender and socio-economic background.
The shift was intended to emphasize features that truly help individuals thrive in Google's dynamic, fast-paced environment. According to former Head of People Operations Laszlo Bock, “Googleyness” refers to qualities such as intellectual humility, a sense of fun, conscientiousness, comfort with ambiguity and the ability to learn and grow. It emphasizes traits such as being proactive, transparent, humble and adaptable, while also encouraging employees to take courageous paths in their personal and professional lives.
At a meeting this week, CEO Sundar Pichai clarified the definition, explaining that it had become too broad and needed refinement. According to Mr Pichai, 'Googleyness' now focuses on 'Mission First', prioritizing the company's goals and being both 'courageous and responsible' in decision-making. It also reportedly includes qualities such as staying “Scrappy” (resourceful) and having fun while working, with an emphasis on teamwork and a sense of unity, summarized by the motto “Team Google”.
These changes follow Google's ongoing efforts to restructure its workforce, including layoffs on December 19 and previous job cuts across the company's global advertising and cloud divisions. The layoffs are part of Google's broader strategy to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving AI sector, with the company launching Gemini 2.0, an AI model poised to drive innovation in the technology industry.