Working Out Loud ®
for teams

For more appreciative cooperation in the team. More satisfaction for everyone. Higher performance overall.
A clear I for a strong WE!

Measurable successes

At the beginning, middle and end of the 8-week program, we ask participants to provide a self-assessment (scale values ​​from 1-10) on the 9 factors that high-performance teams .
Here are an example of the results of a team at SIEMENS that completed the program in 2023.

+35 points increase after completing the program in all nine subject areas overall.

+4 points increase after completing the program in the topic of 'Psychological Safety'.

+9 points increase after completing the program in the topic of 'connectedness'.

What is WOL® for teams?

WOL® for Teams is a program aimed at teams that work primarily virtually and have a common task in day-to-day business. If you have been working together for a long time, are new to a team and/or welcome new members, this program is just right for you. 3-10 participants per team can work in a circle. The circle meets once a week for 1.5 hours over 8 weeks , collaboration takes place on a Miro board. The special feature of the program is that each weekly topic is first reflected on from the participants' first-person perspective on their own needs level, and then the team meets to collate the different needs and negotiate them together as a team.

This approach has been proven to promote team building and performance: work together more effectively in a team in 8 weeks and develop both as an individual and within and with the team, so that work strengthens and healthy high performance is possible.

During the eight weeks of the program nine factors that form the basis for high-performance teams are promoted.
The ego factors are important for personal motivation: autonomy, skill development, meaning and connection.
The We factors are based on this: Psychological safety, reliability, structure and clarity, meaning and the effectiveness of the work are the factors that characterize a real high-performance team.

An increase in all nine factors is asked in the form of an anonymous self-assessment and compiled as a team result to show the effectiveness of the program.

Nine factors for high-performance teams

The ego factors

  • autonomy

  • Skills development/
    improvement

  • sense

  • Connection/Networking

The WE factors

  • Psychological safety

  • reliability

  • Structure & clarity

  • Meaning/significance of the work

  • effectiveness of work

The most important thing in brief

What it's about The focus of the program is on team building, team cohesion, clarity and performance. A clear I for a strong WE is the credo here.

Target group for the program The program and its contents are aimed at teams who work towards a common goal in their everyday work and who want to develop further as a team:
newly founded teams, teams with new members or even teams that have not worked for themselves for a long time have done.

Minimum number of participants The program only makes sense if a team of at least 3-10 people from your company takes part. There are no upper limits; many teams can take part at the same time.

Time frame and effort The program runs for 8 weeks. A start is possible at any time after consultation and advance planning. The participants meet once a week for 90 minutes and invest approximately another hour in preparing these meetings. There will be 3 accompanying events, each lasting
1 hour.

Total time investment: 23 hours

Costs We offer attractive WOL® programs and licenses for companies. Write us an email and we will make you an offer that is tailored to you and your requirements.

  • Prof. Julia Schorlemmer, FOM University of Economics & Management

    “WOL increases intrinsic motivation, mental health and important aspects for team collaboration.”

  • Augner, T., Schermuly, CC and Jungmann, F. (2023), “Working Out Loud: an intervention study to test an agile learning method”, Journal of Workplace Learning, In print.

    “Results revealed that WOL could significantly increase learners' WOL behavior and psychological empowerment at work in the post and six-month follow-up measurements.”

  • Anne S, Change Agent, SMA Solar Technology

    “The WOL method brought people together, strengthened mutual understanding, and fostered their sense of belonging.”

  • Sebastian A., Telekom, Senior HR Business Partner

    “At Deutsche Telekom, we believe that WOL helps our employees to develop successfully in a connected world of work.”

  • Maria Fernanda, Lead HR Business Partner, Kaiser + Kraft

    “Being part of WOL was an incredible experience of connection and commitment.”

  • Dennis B., Enterprise Collaboration

    “I am absolutely convinced that we need this appreciative, generous, open and connecting attitude that WOL conveys to us.”

  • Katja V., Learning Expert, Blum

    “WOL is a super-rich program—it has everything you need for your career. There is so much for different situations that you can do it again and again.”

  • Michael Trautmann, co-creator of On the Way to New Work podcast and book

    “One of the fundamental skills underpinning New Work.”

  • Florian S., HR Coordinator, Radisson Hotel Group

    “Working Out Loud is one of the most beautiful methods in social learning.”

  • Linda F., Education Manager, University Hospital Zurich

    “Since I took part at my first circle my professional life is more meaningful and full of options.”

  • Elian L, HR Development, SWR

    “Resilience is a future competence! We were the first to go through the WOL Resilience program in German. 91% of our participants recommend it.”

  • Justin F., Global Wealth Investments, Citibank

    “The most corporate-friendly way to create human transformation that I have come across.”

  • Kathrin K., HR Consulting & Management

    “The energy that my WOL Circle gave me was indescribable.”

  • Belkis E., Global People Director, LeanIX

    “WOL creates a mindset we strongly need in today's world of work: learning from each other, achieving goals together.”

  • Karl B., Data Visualization Specialist, Bayer

    “Was like a Jonathan Franzen novel: rewarding on so many levels including those you never knew existed.”

  • Nancy B., Early Talent Advocate, Pfizer

    New List Item

    “WOL is the absolute BEST!!!”

  • Katharina N., Change Lead, Bayer

    “This year's WOL Circle was my third and I'm still amazed by the (very different) results that were achieved by each group.”

  • Christian H., Division Manager, Teckentrup

    “WOL improves collaboration in the organization & promotes knowledge sharing, especially in times of increasing digitalization & remote working.”

The WOL method is based on five core elements

relationships

Build sustainable, personal relationships that help and add value. However, not according to the classic networking principle (“one hand washes the other”), but in the sense that you yourself contribute something meaningfully so that the other person also gains added value from the relationship.

Visible work

Make your own work, thoughts, ideas, learning experiences and knowledge visible as a valuable contribution to the network.

generosity

Sharing knowledge without any desire for anything in return but to strengthen the network constructively and sustainably and achieve more together.

Growth mindset

to approach things openly and curiously and thus discover and further develop the diverse possibilities.

Purposeful discovery

What resources do I need? What is my contribution to getting closer to the goal and learning something from it?

"Humans are social creatures and want to interact, and social learning is the most important form of learning."

—Stephen Covey

How Working Out Loud® works for teams

Exchange in a circle = team

Working and exchanging ideas in a confidential, psychologically safe environment promotes support for each other, a sense of community and human connection within the team.

The team works towards a common goal

Everyone in the team works on their own goal, the common goal is to improve collaboration and connection. Intrinsic motivation is promoted so that everyone actively participates, reflects, learns and makes progress.

A structured curriculum

Clearly defined exercises help participants approach the common goal and develop the skills needed to be successful in a team.

Establish new habits over time

Through gradual practice, week after week, sustainable habits are built and a new way of thinking is cultivated so that appreciative and productive cooperation is possible.

Virtual collaboration on MIRO

For more effective collaboration during the program, there is the optional option of having your own digital MIRO whiteboard provided.

Each team receives its own board. The content on the boards can be made available in German or English. All content is visually prepared around the accompanying WOL® workbook.

Here you will find the WOL® Guides, all weekly exercises and have enough space for your ideas and shared documentation in your circle meetings.​

If necessary, you will receive an introduction to the board and Miro training from us so that you can have fun working on it.

Get to know our certified WOL® for teams coaches

Katharina Krentz

In 2015, Katharina was the first to use Working Out Loud programs in a large corporation, adapting them, distributing them internationally, organizing them as a grassroots initiative and anchoring the attitude in the HR strategy. She has advised many companies on this, accompanied circles and (further) developed some of the WOL programs. She is considered the founder of the WOL movement in Germany. To date, >6,000 people have taken part in the public #FrauenStärken powered by WOL programs.

Jens Wiemann

Jens first came into contact with Working Out Loud while designing a new look for the WOL #FrauenStärkenprogram and soon took on the redesign of the global WOL brand ecosystem. Since 2021, he has been part of the #FrauenStärkenco-creation team, helping to create a consistent brand look and feel and striving to continually improve the overall learning experience. He has also been working as a WOL for Teams coach since 2024.

#WOL® for teams in the press

  • Changing Out Loud, Christmas Special December 21, 2021

    Surprise for all fans of Workings out loud: Working out loud is coming to teams from 2022. In this episode, Katharina Krentz reports on the experiences she gained while testing the new approach. WOL4Teams is aimed at teams that pursue a common goal with a focus on team building, team collaboration and team performance. You can find out more in this episode.

  • Florian Titz, LinkedIn, 2023

    Working Out Loud for Teams: Why do teams perform extremely well, why others don't? What makes a great #teamspirit coaching? View post.

  • Florian Titz, Siemens Aerospace, LinkedIn, 2023

    In my last post I shared how our WOL journey towards a team based on trust, psychological safety, spirit to support each other started. Read entire post.

Get to know the other WOL programs too

WOL® Circles

If you want to experience WOL, it's best to start with the WOL Circle method . The focus is on building networking, digital and communication skills as well as self-reflection, self-efficacy and clarity about your own goals, skills and habits.

Who is the program for?
All employees who WANT to expand their network, achieve a goal, research a topic or gain access to further career opportunities

WOL® resilience

Develop and improve skills and overcome challenges better with WOL Resilience . Overcome insecurity, overwhelm and conflicts through everyday techniques and methods for more mindfulness, body awareness, ability to reflect and resilience.​

Who is the program for? Employees who benefit from practical techniques and collaborative learning to feel less stressed and better able to deal with challenges

WOL® shop floor

WOL Shopfloor strengthens the commitment and participation of all employees in the operational professional environment. The focus is on simple job crafting methods to achieve greater job satisfaction by changing your own attitude and developing personal skills.

Who is the program for? Employees in time-constrained environments such as factories, manufacturing, retail and hospitals who want to improve their daily work experience.

#FS powered by WOL®

The focus of the #FrauenStärken powered by WOL is on strengthening yourself as a woman or person who reads as female, supporting other women and further developing your own skills such as self-efficacy, networking and communication skills.

Who is the program for? People who WANT to strengthen themselves and others in order to become more effective and visible through networking and collaboration in networks

Is WOL® for Teams the right program for your company? It's best to arrange a non-binding introductory meeting and find out. We look forward to your inquiry.

Use the contact form, book an appointment with us directly or write us an email to wol@connecting-humans.de