As Cohere turns 8 years old, one consistent piece of our ethos is we don’t rush. We formed a cooperative because we’d seen how move-fast-and-break-things hurts organizations, workers, and the communities these organizations (allegedly) serve.
So we move slow and shape things.
Move Slow
Not only does a sense of urgency hobble our efforts to create a more just and equitable society, but it also short-circuits critical thinking. When navigating challenging decisions, we take the time to read things thoroughly, sit with the thoughts and feelings that come up, and draft initial plans or responses and seek asynchronous advice and feedback.
Once a week we get together for one or two hours over a group video. We trickle in and start with chit-chat. Once the conversation reaches a natural lull, we bring forward topics for group discussion. These lead to meandering conversations, where people opt in or out based upon their assessment of the benefits they can bring to the topic at hand. When opted-out, we engage in some parallel-work, carrying forward other work while half-or-quarter-listening to the ongoing conversation in the background.
Eventually, one of us will say “I’m going to do something else now” (most often take a walk in the afternoon sun or sit at a park) and drop from the video call. And that concludes our weekly meeting.
The outcome of these conversations is never a multi-page project plan or a set of action items with hard deadlines, but rather a series of small next steps we can work through independently over the next week, month, or quarter. There’s often a “looming ambition,” like “get OpaVote up-to-date with its foundational technologies so we can confidently improve the accessibility and quality of its services.”
Shape Things
Now, you may be thinking that does not sound particularly “productive.”
You’re probably right, especially if you measure “productivity” in number of tasks checked off or profits extracted. Instead, we prioritize nurturing peaceful, well-boundaried, and mutually beneficial relationships between ourselves, our clients, and our community.
So we observe patiently, we orient thoughtfully, and we decide carefully as we take action.
And things change. For the better. Slowly, but consistently, with positive results.
Choosing to slow down, embrace deep, substantative change, and distribute the collective benefits of our labors equitably doesn’t get Wall Street and private equity fired up, but we get to live in a world where our labor creates benefits for ourselves, our colleagues, our clients, and our communities.
