Welcome to ExCo! In 2025, we’re stepping onto the field as a high-performing sports team, not just a family. A sports team thrives on discipline, clear roles, accountability, and camaraderie, and so will we. Each of us plays a key role in ExCo’s success—every pass, every goal, every victory counts. Here’s the playbook for how we’ll work, think, and win together.
▶️ Extreme Accountability: You own your outcomes. Imagine being the goalkeeper—no excuses, no passing blame. If the ball is in your court, it’s your job to get it where it needs to go. The team depends on you.
▶️ Going Beyond the Script: Like a star player who doesn’t just follow the coach’s plan but creates magic on the field, go beyond what’s asked. Anticipate opportunities to contribute, innovate, and make a difference.
▶️ Visible Results and Outcomes: At ExCo, effort matters, but results matter more. Think of a basketball player: it’s not the shots you take, it’s the points you score. Your work should have measurable impact.
▶️ 0 Follow-Up Rule: No coach should have to remind you to take the next shot. Be proactive. Deliver what you promise without anyone having to follow up. Dependability wins games.
▶️ Talk in Timelines: Imagine a teammate calling, “I’ll pass the ball sometime soon.” It’s chaos. Instead, say: “I’ll send this report by 3 PM today.” Deadlines keep the game flowing.
▶️ Honesty and Transparency: Be truthful, even when it’s hard. If you miss a deadline, own it, regroup, and fix it. It’s better to be upfront than let the team stumble in the dark.
▶️ Owning Mistakes and Learning: Every athlete misses a shot. What sets great players apart is how they bounce back. At ExCo, mistakes are okay—but own them, learn, and come back stronger.
▶️ Getting Things Done with the Highest Quality: Like a perfect pass in football or a flawless free throw, aim for precision and excellence in everything you do. Quality is our standard, not our goal.
▶️ Quality First: ****Everything we do reflects our commitment to excellence. Good enough isn’t good enough.
▶️ Adaptable: ****Be ready to pivot mid-play. The ability to adjust quickly is what keeps great teams ahead.
▶️ Learning from the World: ****The best teams study their competitors, innovate, and adapt. Stay curious. Ask: “What can we do better today?”
▶️ Leveraging AI: Just like athletes use the latest gear to enhance their game, we’ll use AI tools to work smarter, faster, and better.
▶️ Leveling Up Personally: Your growth fuels the team’s success. Push yourself to be better every day, just like an athlete training for the championship.
At ExCo, pods are like specialized teams within the larger team. Each pod is built to deliver specific outcomes, just like a football team has defenders, midfielders, and forwards.
▶️ How Pods Work: Autonomous Units: Pods have all the skills and visibility they need to achieve their goals. Example: A marketing pod might include a performance marketer, a designer, and a copywriter—all working together to drive ad conversions.
▶️ Clear Outcomes: Each pod focuses on 1-2 specific outcomes, such as increasing sales, delivering an edition, or improving app performance. Analogy: Pods are like relay teams—each person runs their part of the race, but the baton must move seamlessly.
▶️ Accountability and Scorecards: • 80% Outcomes: Quantitative metrics like sales numbers, project deadlines, or user engagement. • 20% Qualitative: Micro-level insights like attention to detail or handling escalations efficiently.
▶️ Examples of Pods at ExCo: • Edition Delivery Pod: Responsible for planning and executing a specific trip or experience. • Marketing Pod: Focuses on driving awareness and conversions for a campaign. • Tech Pod: Ensures the app runs smoothly and introduces new features seamlessly.
▶️ Why Pods? Pods allow us to stay agile, focused, and collaborative. Each pod is a team within the team, driving their part of ExCo’s success.
▶️ Proactive Ownership • What It Means: Own your tasks like a striker owning the ball—no passing the blame. • Example: If a deadline is at risk, raise the flag early and propose a solution.
▶️ Precision in Communication • What It Means: Be clear and specific. Timelines over vagueness. • Example: Instead of “soon,” say, “I’ll have this by Monday 10 AM.”
▶️ Going Beyond the Script • What It Means: Anticipate opportunities and act. Surprise and delight where possible. • Example: Adding a fun emoji 🌈 to a customer message or delivering more than expected.
▶️ Transparency and Feedback • What It Means: Own your challenges and communicate openly. • Example: “I’m struggling with this timeline; can we adjust or get support?”
▶️ Celebrate and Elevate Each Other • What It Means: Be each other’s biggest cheerleaders. • Example: “Big shoutout to Riya for closing the Bali partnership!” 🌟
▶️ Respect for Time and Energy • What It Means: Show up prepared and on time. Manage your energy effectively. • Example: Plan for recovery weeks after intense projects.
▶️ Key Vocabulary: • Huddle: Quick syncs to recalibrate. • Playbook: Internal strategies and workflows. • Field: On-ground operations. • Bench: Stepping back temporarily with a clear return plan. • Coach Up: Mentoring teammates. • Victory Lap: Celebrating milestones.
▶️ Tone: • Be professional but approachable, like a cool teammate. Use emojis 🌟 thoughtfully to add warmth and personality.
▶️ Recognition Programs: • “Pod MVP” or “Top Performer of the Quarter” awards to celebrate excellence. • Recognition happens at Tuesday Gratitude Calls.
▶️ Recovery Weeks: • After high-pressure projects, we build in lighter workloads to recharge.
▶️ Periodic Meetups: • Once every four months, the Leadership, Sandbox, and Roundtable teams will meet in person to align and bond.
▶️ Cross-Pod Collaboration: • Activities focus on building trust and collaboration across pods.
At ExCo, every day is game day. Each of us has a role to play, and together, we’ll win championships. Show up with discipline, passion, and creativity, and remember: we’re not just here to play—we’re here to win. 🏆
What do you think? Does this feel ready to inspire the team?