Why 37signals Defaults to Trust

Trust is the foundation of any strong company. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast, 37signals co-founder and CTO David Heinemeier Hansson joins host Kimberly Rhodes to explore what it really means to build a high-trust organization. David shares how trust shapes the culture and success of a team, even when working remotely.

Key Takeaways

• 00:23 – Trust starts as the default at 37signals
• 05:19 – Empowering employees with reasonable spending freedom
• 11:46 – Why one person’s mistake shouldn’t lead to restrictive policies
• 15:15 – How to cultivate trust in remote workplaces
• 22:10 – Trust and accountability can and should coexist

Links and Resources

• Record a video question for the podcast
• Books by 37signals
• Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
• HEY World | HEY
• The REWORK podcast
• The Rework Podcast on YouTube
• The 37signals Dev Blog
• 37signals on YouTube
• @37signals on X