Examining Restrictions

September 10, 2024

The way things are isn’t working. Companies are stuck in survival mode. To solve this, many turn to antique business patterns brought on by antiquated consulting firms for help. There is a genuine need to get out of the weeds, unless we want employees to be disengaged, burned out, and misaligned with their company. We’re all seeing the high degree of employment churn, poor quality product, and exhaustion from cookie cutter work processes. Bottom line: Companies of all sizes are struggling to hit their goals.

Goals matter - but how we get there, and how effectively we get there needs to be examined.

What we’ve come to believe is that people thrive in an environment of possibility, potential, and engagement. This environment is created when a company expands their focus on individual growth, psychological safety, and adaptability. Human-centered cultures, when properly fostered, lead to higher engagement, innovation, and long-term resilience.

Human-centered companies keep their people.

This is important because engaged employees care about and know what matters to their company’s success. A culture that focuses on employee well-being and sense of purpose, increases their ability to contribute meaningfully. Human-centered cultures empower employees to contribute meaningfully. These same employees then directly impact your industry and your customers.

We need to meet our goals today, and we must be strategic leaders. Successful companies shift to a human-centered approach; it grows their ability to thrive in emergent and sometimes volatile markets.

So our idea is to partner with companies who see the need to break away from history and address what’s really happening. This modern approach is effective and action based.

Together we’ll lean in on human-centered practices that enable your organization to constantly iterate and improve your culture. We provide real-time insights and continuous development opportunities. We offer an alternative to the one-size-fits-all playbook. Instead you’ll get a personalized, values-driven engagement that truly respects individuals and delivers results.

This matters because people are the organization, and when they are aligned with their purpose, supported by a healthy culture, and given the opportunity to grow, they can achieve extraordinary things. Partners accelerate change.

Explore Engage Lead Influence Adapt

Special thanks to Alex M. H. Smith for this foundational template.

Your Story

March 3, 2024

We’ve all heard variations of “be brief, be bright, be gone.” In some ways, that’s powerfully direct. It shows respect to everyone’s time, but can also feel like an insult. What if we look at it through the lens of “intentionality?”

Being intentional in what we say supports meaningful bonds, enriches relationships, and has lasting impacts on the people around us.

Intentional doesn’t mean short sentences or editing ourselves. It might even make us need to be more in touch with who we are authentically. That’s where we start to look at bottom-lining as a technique.

Here’s the kicker. The definition of bottom-lining:

Bottom-lining is finding the most important parts of something and ignoring the rest. It's picking out the biggest, shiniest gems from a messy pile of rocks. It helps you understand things quickly and make decisions faster. Bottom-lining is commonly used in business contexts to streamline decision-making processes and ensure efficient use of time and resources.

Not so bottom-lined, is it? Here’s our very intentional version:

Bottom-lining increases alignment, understanding, and connection. Less is more.

Through this practice we not only share our stories, but also start hearing the true intentions of others.

Something to try: After you’ve listened to your coworker, spouse, or friend share with you, say, “What I heard is…” Watch what happens.

Modern Nots

February 13, 2024

Today, more than ever, organizations are realizing navigating tough problems is inevitable. Whether it's our current market shift, our financial situation, or unexpected competitors, we have to overcome these challenges. Strategic moves must be made to build sustainability and resilience.

Are you an organization or team who is…?

  • Not solving meaningful problems

  • Not effective or focused

  • Not communicating

  • Not collaborating

  • Not making confident decisions

  • Not trusting the process

  • Not owning the outcomes

  • Not modernizing

  • Not engaged in the work

No judgement. We’ve all been there. All of these “nots” require untangling. By its very definition untangling is removing knots from something physical or metaphorical. It means clarifying and simplifying something that is convoluted or difficult to understand, making it more manageable or comprehensible. We can all agree human interaction can be complex.

Untangling knots is crucial in both personal and professional realms as it fosters clarity and enables effective decision-making. Addressing complexities head-on not only streamlines processes but also cultivates a path towards innovation and growth.

Untangling means putting in the work to:

  • Welcome the discomfort

  • Embody our values

  • Reframe problems

  • Engage trusted circles

  • Stay committed to the work

  • Embrace emergence

  • Tackle goals creatively

Our values, and our mission, are to challenge a lot of the current nots in a way that’s directly focused on you and your context.

What’s the interpretation?

February 10, 2024

Your company is the combined interpretations of its peoples' past, present, and future cultures.

One of the ways we explore these interpretations is through utilizing Journey Lines. Journey lines are visual representations of the peaks and valleys of a person’s experience in a workplace or workforce over time. There is a lot of power in people coming together to discuss their perceptions and interpretations of what happened.

This gives leaders an opportunity to listen, participate, and grow their relationships with their employees.

Our journey began as independent contractors assigned to a team, then we faced a contract cancelation. There were some valleys, but the main peak is now - us, years later as a culture consultancy.

Where’s your next peak? Where’s your next valley? Who’s partnering with you to help identify and thrive in either situation?

When you’re ready, Unrestricted Humans is ready, too. Contact us.

Journey Lines Exercise

Step 1. Grab a piece of paper and pen

Step 2. Draw a horizontal line across the paper, representing a timeline of your experience with company cultures.

Step 3. Mark significant events or milestones; positive as well as challenges/setbacks.

Step 4. Reflect and discuss your journey lines with others in the company.