The way forward
For this next stage of Neo, we've created a transitional team that's putting in new processes to enable full self-management. This group is drawn from across the different areas of the business, with Kat, Emma and Sam taking it on.
The moment of choosing that team was a surprise in itself. The lineup emerged naturally from a spontaneous group conversation sparked by Jack about where our individual appetites lay. We weren't actually due to decide for a further couple more days - and we had a special workshop already designed, with external support booked.
For the person who'd planned that session, coming back to the news that it wasn't needed was a shock - but in the spirit of making sound decisions no more slowly than necessary, it was an early example of what's possible. And that session was repurposed, and took us further on with our plans.
The transition team meets at least weekly to check-in on the issues - financials, business development, recruitment - and makes recommendations for where any actions need to be taken.
Some decisions are easily made there and then, within the group meeting. For choices that will meaningfully affect the whole staff team, the group calls for the whole team to come together. And anyone who wants to be part of an ad-hoc group, taking on a particular challenge, can do so, regardless of where they sit.
This demands frequent, fluid communication to work. We’re experimenting with online tool Asana to share our information and conversations, and looking at other options, to avoid email meltdown and endless face-to-face catch-ups. And we’re noticing that it requires an extra level of attention - it’s up to all of us to notice and to engage.