top of page

Guiding Principles

We believe working by these principles will yield transformative results for clients

Be curious without judgment

The world is an interesting place. There’s always something more you can learn. Genuine, non-judgmental curiosity opens doors to understanding and problem solving.

What this looks like

​When we work with you, we:

​

  • Learn the rationale and decision-making history around a project

  • Ask questions with a strengths-based lens

  • Assume best intentions in all interactions

  • Practice the five why's

Why it matters

  • An organization is a complex web of deliverables/products, processes, and people. 

  • Many of us spend more time at work than with our families. Remember that clients' work may not just be a job - but a part of their identity. 

  • Technology changes quickly - it requires a lot of resources to keep up

  • Organizations change quickly - updating data, measurement, and infrastructure can be a big process. 

Make things better

It’s easy to say something is broken or inefficient. Take time to understand the problems and then take action. No action that improves a client experience is too small. 

What this looks like

​When we work with you, we: 

​​

  • Never lose sight of the end goal. We optimistically focus on what the future can be.

  • Include process goals to deepen impact.

  • Think beyond the deliverable. Don't focus only on the deliverable. Think about how you can improve processes and help people. 

  • Highlight incremental change and organic opportunities for improvement

Why it matters

  • Change is a process not an event. 

  • Successful work is more than a deliverable. Smooth processes and happy people are important outcomes for us. 

  • Celebrating small wins creates buy-in and gives a project a sense of momentum. 

See the whole picture

The work we do has ripple effects through an entire organization - from how performance is understood to how the subjects of the data are talked about. We make sure we are creating the right solutions for an organization given their unique context. 

What this looks like

​When we work with you, we: 

​​

  • Seek to understand your context, internally and externally

  • Recognize the ripple effects of our work through an organization

  • Plan projects beyond the deliverable. Project planning includes communication strategies, change management, and documentation. 

Why it matters

  • Organizations and the people in them are complex. Our solutions need to respect this

  • Siloing is a problem - especially when it comes to data

  • Data driven culture cannot be a top down only initiative. 

Be an inclusive partner

Inclusion is at the heart of building effective, sustainable solutions that have staying power in an organization. Quality work includes a variety of voices within a client organization.

What this looks like

​When we work with you, we: 

​​

  • Disaggregate data by demographics like race and gender whenever possible

  • Proactively seek input from people not represented in the room, whether it is race, gender, positional authority, or something else

  • Create processes and project plans that authentically include client voice

  • Remember that the work needs to work for you, your staff and in your unique context. 

Why it matters

  • We all have biases that can disproportionately impact our

  • Data can intentionally and unintentionally increase bias, exclusion, and inequity. This cannot happen on our watch. 

  • Our solutions need to be seen as positive by an entire organization for them to be effective. 

Quality over Quantity

Quality work lasts. Take the time and do things right the first time. We will never take on a new client or expand a contract if it means compromising on the work we’re doing for clients.

What this looks like

​When we work with you, we: 

​​

  • Double check any data, charts, or products religiously

  • Get really clear about project goals and scope

  • Build in some buffer time into project plans. Things take a lot longer than expected. Plan for it

  • Measure twice, cut once

Why it matters

  • Trust is an essential part of any relationship - including professional engagements. Overextending and compromising on quality puts quality of work - and therefore trust - at risk

  • Our work should stand the test of time

Be proactive

Address issues when they arise, ask questions promptly, and don't miss opportunities to help a client. 

What this looks like

​When we work with you, we: 

​​

  • Identify organic opportunities for improvement even outside the scope of work

  • Raise questions when we have them

  • Alert you to any issues while they're still small

Why it matters

  • Communication is essential to ensure we deliver products and services that meet client needs. 

bottom of page