8 Organizational Metaphors

Metaphors seize our attention, connect us with others, and simplify complex ideas. But they also trap us into a simplified way of thinking. At work, this means that the way we simplify our organizations determines how we can lead and embrace change.

Explainers

The Definitive Guide to Agile Retrospectives and Post-Mortem Meetings

Can your culture compete?

NOBL Academy is our library of tools, case studies, essays, and trainings designed to help you make your culture a competitive advantage. Learn more about NOBL.

Explainers

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 101: How to Make a Difference

Creating a supportive workplace for all employees is both a critical and sensitive topic. We’ve identified a few best practices that engage participants and deliver real results.

Explainers

How to Encourage a Culture of Courage

Courage isn’t an inherent quality—it can be trained. Here’s how to make it a habit on your team.

Explainers

What Happens When Your Role Transforms into the Chief Transformation Officer

When companies realize they need to become more innovative, they often anoint one person to lead the charge. Here’s how to spread transformation through the organization.

Explainers

Why It’s Your Job to Care about Your Leaders

If you work for an organization, you work for a leader. How do you reduce the distance between you and leadership to foster better teamwork and alignment?

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Your First Hire: Finding (and Keeping) the Right Role

When adding the first members to your team, how do you identify the right roles for your needs—and once they join, how do they continue to grow?

Explainers

How Do You Encourage Employees to Go the Extra Mile?

Have you ever escorted a guest through your office rather than letting them find their way themselves? Or maybe you’ve spoken up to avert a potential disaster, or “gone the extra mile” on a project even when you knew you wouldn’t get a bonus. If so, congratulations—you’ve engaged in an Organizational Citizenship Behavior.

Explainers

What Makes for an Emotionally Reliable Leader?

As a leader, it feels like you’re constantly under pressure. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s all too easy to respond to problems emotionally, which can make people feel like you’re Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde—and they never know just who they’re going to get.

Explainers

What Does “Bring Your Whole Self to Work” Really Mean?

Many of us are limited by our work personas and wish we could be more authentic with our colleagues. Increasingly, we hear people advocate for bringing “our whole self” to work, but what are the limits of that advice and when is authenticity actually damaging to a team?

Quick Studies

How an Extreme Offsite Led to eBay’s Turnaround

When corporate bureaucracy slows innovation, it takes unorthodox measures to break through. A secret offsite gave eBay’s team the focus they needed to develop a new solution.

Explainers

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Psychological Safety (and Felt Safe Enough to Ask)

The most important factor in any high-performing team is psychological safety: that is, the feeling that it’s safe to take risks in front of the group. But how do you foster it?