Why Great Teams Have a Cultural Rhythm — And How to Create One That Lasts

May 7

You can’t fake culture—and you can’t scale without it.

Ted Blosser, co-founder and CEO of WorkRamp, has spent the last decade helping companies design better learning systems. But his real focus isn’t just onboarding and compliance—it’s making sure your team doesn’t slow down as it grows.

Ted joined me on Unlocked Potential to talk about the systems, rhythms, and leadership practices that keep culture strong, execution sharp, and teams aligned—especially in industries where speed matters and retention is everything.

Culture Is a Rhythm, Not a Perk

Every company starts with a vibe—but the best ones build a rhythm.

Ted calls this the cultural drumbeat: the recurring rituals that define how your team connects, communicates, and delivers.

It’s not just about perks or slogans. It’s about consistency.

At WorkRamp, that means a 10am all-hands meeting every Monday—no exceptions. For other companies, it might be weekly demos, Friday lunches, or transparent leadership updates. The specific habit doesn’t matter. The repetition does.

“If you don’t have a rhythm, you’ll lose your identity as you scale.”

Culture doesn’t die when you grow. It dies when you stop reinforcing it.

Don’t Start With Tools—Start With Systems

Ted’s advice to business owners is refreshingly grounded: don’t rush into software.

If you’ve just grown to 15 or 20 employees, you don’t need an LMS yet. You need to get your processes out of your head and into a repeatable format. Use Google Docs, wikis, simple handbooks—whatever works.

Only once that system breaks—usually around 50 people—is it time to invest in platforms like WorkRamp.

He calls this the “hair-on-fire” moment: when the cost of not having a system outweighs the effort of building one.

Too early, and you’ll waste time. Too late, and you’ll start leaking productivity, culture, and revenue.

Make Learning a Pull, Not a Push

Most training fails because it’s boring.

Ted breaks down the evolution of corporate learning into three phases:

Old-school training: Long videos, static slides, zero engagement
Microlearning: Bite-sized, interactive, mobile-friendly content
AI-driven personalization: Letting people choose how they learn—audio, text, video, or chat

Imagine taking one training module and delivering it as a podcast, a phone call, or a TikTok-style series—based on each employee’s learning style.

That’s not theoretical. It’s already happening.

“The future of learning is flexible, adaptive, and meets people where they are.”

Automate What Matters (Like Compliance)

For frontline industries, training isn’t just about onboarding—it’s about safety, risk, and compliance.

Today, many teams still track these things manually. Ted sees that changing fast.

He envisions a world where AI agents proactively manage compliance, flag expired certifications, and ensure your team stays audit-ready—all without spreadsheets or reminders.

This isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about protection.

Because when something goes wrong, you don’t want to be guessing whether someone saw the training video.

Grow Leaders From the Inside

Too many companies buy generic leadership courses that feel disconnected from their actual culture.

Ted says the best leadership training is homegrown. Built by your team. For your team. Reflecting how you work and what you value.

When you outsource leadership development, you also outsource your culture. That’s a risk most growing companies can’t afford.

“Real leadership programs come from the inside. Not off the shelf.”

Shift From Feelings to Performance

There’s been a major mindset shift in how companies think about culture.

Before 2022, most teams operated in an employee-first model. That meant optimizing for happiness, flexibility, and individual growth.

But we’ve entered a new chapter. Today, top-performing companies are focused on clarity, outcomes, and shared goals.

This doesn’t mean becoming cold or transactional. It means aligning growth with execution—so your team feels supported and successful.

And that starts with changing the conversation. Less “How are you feeling?” More “How can I help you win?”

The Real Takeaway? Build the Drumbeat Early

Your culture is only as strong as the rhythms you reinforce.
Your systems only scale if they’re simple, repeatable, and aligned.
And your people only grow when leadership is intentional, not outsourced.

If you’re building a team right now—especially in industries like construction, manufacturing, hospitality, or retail—don’t wait to get this right.

Your identity won’t scale itself. But your drumbeat can.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

🎙️ This episode features:

Jesse Chor