The Best Workplace - Our Vision

Version 87.1 by Robert Schaub on 2025/09/20 22:09

The world is now changing at a rate at which the basic systems, structures, and cultures built over the past century cannot keep up with.
We have the opportunity, to create a mindset where there is a new sense of optimism, mission accomplishment, and accountability.
This will help us meet our immediate goals and better position us to deal with the challenges of the twenty-first century

We cannot miss this opportunity.

Source: Accelerate! The Evolution of the 21st Century Organization (John Kotter)

What if we created the best job someone ever had?

There is an alternative. It’s a different sort of increase, a better sort of safety.
It’s work that matters. It’s creating a difference, being part of something, and doing work we’re proud of.
This is the song of significance. This is what motivates people to do the work that can’t be automated, mechanized, or outsourced.

But how? How to change the systems we’ve worked so hard to build for generations?

The answer begins simply with: we need to choose.

Source: The Song of Significance by Seth Godin

We Build the Best Workplace - a Blueprint

Combines Agile, Lean, User-Centered Design, and modern leadership principles in a holistic collaboration model

We Engage with Our Users

We are clear about who uses or is affected by our work; our users can be internal and external.
We connect with users and empathize with them, listen to their needs, and learn from their insights.
We consider the entire user journey, not just isolated interactions.
We prioritize users’ needs over assumptions or organizational priorities.
Our utmost priorities are users’ well-being, privacy, and needs.

We Build Networks of Empowered Teams

Teams self-organize and wield decision-making power.
Employees demonstrate entrepreneurial drive, taking ownership of team goals, decisions, and performance, and receiving due credit for their achievements.
Networks of teams align around shared strategic goals with agreed priorities.
We construct cross-functional teams, assembling diverse talents to fulfill the team’s mission.
We build connections and relationships with other teams and individuals.

We Work in Iterations

We operate in iterative cycles, allowing us to make early adjustments and minimize the risk and impact of errors.
We regularly engage with users through early and frequent feedback loops.
We embed quality into every increment, preventing costly delays, rework, and defect fixes.

We Are Visionary Leaders and Enablers

Leaders provide and align vision and strategy, inspiring, energizing, and coaching our teams.
Leaders create an enabling environment, removing impediments and empowering individuals and teams to self-organize.
Leaders provide psychological safety, viewing failure and mistakes as opportunities for continuous growth and learning.
Leaders “Go to Gemba”: They actively observe how people work to create value, engaging to learn, coach, and support.

We Foster Change

We create environments that encourage experimentation and hypothesis exploration.
We embrace changes grounded in evidence and tested hypotheses.

We Practice Transparency and Build Trust

We actively share information with our leaders, employees, colleagues, and other teams and departments.
We proactively communicate about the fulfillment of our promises and commitments.
We openly discuss our progress, as well as any setbacks.
We recognize our limitations and mistakes and persistently strive for improvement.