Work becomes sustainable when it serves a purpose beyond status, and relationships become strong when they are real rather than polite performances.
Meaningful work requires clear goals, high standards, and the chance to learn. It also requires honesty about strengths and weaknesses, because pretending blocks growth. Meaningful relationships require the same honesty, plus respect for the person even when you disagree with their view.
I learned that the combination is powerful: people can push each other hard when they trust that the push is in service of shared goals. Without that trust, truth-telling feels like threat.
So the culture must reward candor and responsibility, not appearances. When people can speak openly and still feel valued, the organization gains both better decisions and deeper commitment. That is rare, and it is worth protecting.