RBL Q2 Virtual Offsite

There’s a simple and powerful truth at the center of our hiring practices at Round Barn Labs: The end product will benefit significantly if each team member enjoys and learns from working with their colleagues.

By placing an emphasis on building a well-rounded team from diverse backgrounds and focus areas, we've been able to draw on one another’s strengths, help each other make leaps forward as growth practitioners – and most important of all, we’ve been able to deliver consistently strong results for our customers.

It all sounds simple, but don’t get me wrong, putting together a purpose-driven, collaborative and trusted team took years of preparation, discussions with trusted friends and counsel – and, of course, a very talented group of people. But the hard work has paid off. Today’s RBL team is collaborative, transparent, competitive, data-driven, and customer-centric.

I’m reminded of this long-fought staffing victory after wrapping up our recent virtual offsite. Teammates from Seattle, Denver and SF gathered online to celebrate wins, discuss opportunities, lay out some challenges and chart our course ahead. We covered topics such as core client needs, documentation and processes, SWOT analysis, Objective Key Results (OKRs), better connecting and building on an already highly trusted team – as well as planning for 2020 and putting together both a 3-year plan and a 10-year vision.

Looking back at Q4 (Austin), Q1 (Denver) and Q2 (Virtual & Seattle themed) I think this was one of the best off-sites yet. While we didn’t get a chance to see everyone in person, we’re becoming even more aligned and focused as a team. And in the concrete results department, we’ll be rolling out some additional improvements on the data, reporting and analytics front.

Thank you to Katie Holman for putting on an excellent virtual wine tasting for the team. It was fun to bring a little bit of the Bay Area’s wine enthusiasm to the remote distributed team.

We thought it was appropriate given that I grew up in Sonoma County and the region’s Fountain grove Round Barn served as the inspiration behind “Round Barn” Labs.

I’m proud to report that despite the significant challenges we’re all facing, RBL has been fortunate and well positioned enough to meet and exceed the goals we set for ourselves in Q1 at our Denver offsite. The team is as aligned, invested and excited as ever about the opportunity to work side-by-side with our colleagues to help our clients grow. We’re more committed than ever to doing great work and delivering customer value. There’s evidence of this in our recent implementation of improved financial systems, rigor and protections – especially in the midst of today’s challenging macro environment.

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Our quarterly off-sites have provided a healthy forum for teammates to be part of our plan to grow together, and to present suggestions for improved processes, people, and focus. Team leads did a great job presenting the results, and laying out the current landscape of their practice areas and client portfolios.

Trying times like these – and inspiring off-sites like the one we just had – drive home the point that our people are what make RBL the trusted, innovative and effective growth firm our clients know us to be. We look forward to many more years of growth and empowerment as a team – and as a powerful resource for our clients.

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