The Next Next Common Sense
intellectual property and strategic priorities. This approach creates coher- ence between openness and focus. Create shared rituals. In distributed environments, rituals become essential for creating coherent contexts. Salesforce's "V2MOM" planning process (Vision, Values, Methods, Obstacles, Measures) creates alignment through shared practice rather than physical proximity. Rituals serve multiple functions in creating coherence. When tech- nology company Buffer conducts its "Transparent Salary Reviews," it re- inforces values around fairness and openness while creating shared un- derstanding of how compensation decisions are made. This ritual creates coherence between stated principles and operational practices. Balance synchronous and asynchronous work. Hybrid environ- ments require thoughtful decisions about when teams need to work to- gether in real-time versus independently. Atlassian's "Team Playbook" provides frameworks for making these decisions intentionally rather than defaulting to constant meetings. This balance requires explicit agreements. Digital product agency Basecamp implemented "Library Hours"—dedicated periods when team members work independently without interruption—alongside collab- orative sessions that require real-time interaction. This rhythm creates coherence between focused individual work and team coordination. Provide contextual tools, not just rules. Netflix's culture of "Freedom with Responsibility" provides principles that help employees make decisions in varied contexts rather than prescriptive policies. Contextual tools take many forms. Management consulting firm McKinsey created its "Team Start-Up" toolkit, which helps project teams establish shared understanding of goals, roles, and working norms at the beginning of each engagement. This toolkit creates coherence by estab- lishing clear initial conditions rather than detailed operating procedures. Design contexts for inclusion. As workforces become increasingly diverse, contexts must accommodate different needs and perspectives. Technology company Slack implemented an "Inclusive Language Guide" that helps teams create environments where everyone can contribute fully.
305
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease