Article at a Glance:
- We reject the easy, predictable path in favor of continuous learning and innovation.
- Instead of rigid rules or one-size-fits-all policies, we focus on the next right step.
- We don’t rely on performance reviews or rewards—we prioritize meaning and purpose.
- We embrace “The Gap,” knowing we’ll never be perfect, but we can always improve.
Time to read: 3 minutes
At Redmond, we don’t take the easy route. Instead, we focus on achieving the best outcomes for our mission to elevate the human experience in the long term.
What, exactly, do we do differently on this messy path?
We don’t rely on rigid goals or formulas. Instead, we focus on the next right step and what makes sense in the moment. The future is constantly shifting, and we need to stay flexible to keep growing.
We also don’t use carrots and sticks to motivate each other. Instead, we focus on intrinsic motivation, AKA helping each person find meaning and purpose in their work. This is also why we don’t do performance reviews. Personal growth comes from self-reflection, not external judgment.
And we don’t apply one-size-fits-all policies. We take the time to understand each person and each situation, figuring out what’s best for everyone individually.
We’re committed to figuring it out as we go, striving for win-win solutions, and improving continuously. We don’t know exactly what’s best, but we believe in the power of constant improvement, not perfection.
As Albus Dumbledore said in the Harry Potter series, “We must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.”
We choose what’s right for our mission.
Our Guiding Principles
To help us navigate the mess, we stick to a few key principles:
- Seek Understanding: We’re constantly looking around at what it is and asking “What are we seeing? What does it mean? What do we do now?”
- Continuous Improvement: We aim to get 1% better every day. Small progress adds up!
- Collaboration: We don’t just make decisions on our own. We work together, learn from each other, and share insights to improve as a team.
- Assuming Positive Intent: We assume the best in each other, even when things go wrong. This helps us resolve issues and build stronger relationships.
- Finding Win-Win Solutions: We don’t settle for less than a solution that benefits everyone.
- Staying Aligned with Core Values: Our core values guide everything we do, helping us make decisions that are true to who we are.
The Gap
At Redmond, we embrace something called “The Gap”—the space between where we are and where we want to be. We’ll never fully close that gap because our ideal is always evolving.
It’s like driving down a dark road—your headlights only reveal so much at a time, but you keep moving forward. The goal isn’t to reach perfection; it’s to use that evolving ideal to keep guiding us forward.
The truth is, we’ll never be perfect, but we can always keep improving. While that idea could (and does) stress some people out, we’ve learned to embrace it around here and keep using that ideal as our compass, even though we’ll never reach it.
Moving Forward Together
Sure, it would be easier to make blanket rules and stick to what’s always been done. But if we did that, we’d end up with the same results everyone else gets. We wouldn’t innovate or improve!
Yes, it’s messier and less clear at times. It can feel unfair.
The journey of learning and growing isn’t always straightforward, but that’s part of the process. We never expect perfection, but we’re committed to continuous improvement. We’re all in this together, shaping our culture as we go!
