Working out loud ® programs - learn to work effectively together
With our working out loud ® programs, companies specifically strengthen their teams through social learning, social fitness and networked work.
What is Working Out Loud®?
Working Out Loud (WOL) is a globally successful learning method in which employees achieve their self -organized goals through self -organized learning, transparent cooperation and networking.
Our WOL ® programs at a glance
WOL® CIRCLES
Peer Learning, networking and self -organization for all employees. Ideal for starting the WOL method.
WOL® Teams
Strengthen cooperation, share knowledge, build trust - for existing teams that want to grow together.
WOL® Resilience
Promote psychological security and inner strength - for employees who want to deliberately deal with stress and change.
WOL® Shopfloor
WOL for production and commercial areas - adapted to everyday work without a screen and desk.
#FrauenStärken
Networking, visibility and empowerment for women - for the targeted promotion of female leadership and careers.
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WOL ® CIRCLES - The best introduction to the learning method and your personal further development
If you want to experience Working Out Loud®, it is best to start with a WOL® Circle. 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 WOL ® CIRCLES intended for?
For all employees who expand their network, achieve a goal, explore a topic or discover new career paths. Ripation text goes here -
WOL ® Teams – build trust, share knowledge, and take ownership together
WOL® for teams transfers the principles of the WOL® Circles to existing work teams. The focus is on collective learning, shared responsibility and a new quality of cooperation. Learn teams to strengthen each other, share knowledge and to grow together in real challenges.For whom is WOL ® for Teams?
For teams who want to improve their cooperation, break up silos and develop an open, trusting team culture. -
WOL ® Resilience - for mental strength, psychological security and more self -efficacy
WOL® resilience combines the keeping of working out loud® with targeted resilience training. Through reflection, peer support and practical exercises, participants learn to better deal with stress, strengthen psychological security and actively maintain their mental health.Who is WOL ® Resilience for?
For employees who want to build stability, emotional strength and self -efficacy in demanding times - individually or in a team. -
WOL ® Shopfloor – made for everyday shopfloor realities and non-desk employees
WOL® Shopfloor transfers the principle of Working Out Loud® into commercial production. With simplified methods, clear tasks and maximum practical suitability, WOL® is also tangible and effective for employees without a PC workstation.Who is WOL ® Shopfloor for?
Ideal for people working in production, logistics, or service who want to reflect, grow, and get involved – without having to deal with technical hurdles. -
#FrauenStärken powered by WOL ® - specifically strengthen women, network and make it professionally visible
#FrauenStärken support women in self -confident positioning themselves, expanding their networks and actively shaping their professional development. The focus is on empowerment, target clarity and the structure of supportive relationships.
Who is #FrauenStärken powered by WOL ® for?
For women who want to develop, network or prepare for new roles, projects or career steps - regardless of hierarchy or department. -
WOL ® Leaders – Rethink modern leadership, lead through connection
WOL® Leaders combines self-leadership, coaching skills, and team responsibility with the mindset and method of Working Out Loud®.
In a world between remote desires, efficiency pressure and constant change, managers need new ways to gain clarity, strengthen themselves and enable real team connections. The program offers a protected learning room in which managers reflect, learn, to test each other and practically try out new forms of leadership. The focus is on self-regulation, feedback culture, psychological security and resilient team development-supplemented by a structured 12-week peer coaching format: Working Out Loud® for Leaders.
Who is WOL ® LEADERS intended for?
For new and experienced managers who want to make their role consciously and effective - self -reflected, connecting and future -oriented.Coming this summer!
Curious to find out more? Write us an email to wol@connecting-humans.de
Curious to learn more? Grab our brochure for a quick rundown of all WOL® programs, how they work, and what the method’s all about.
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Prof. Julia Schorlemmer, FOM University of Economics & Management
“WOL increases intrinsic motivation, mental health and important aspects for team collaboration.”
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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.”
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Anne S, Change Agent, SMA Solar Technology
“The WOL method brought people together, strengthened mutual understanding, and fostered their sense of belonging.”
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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.”
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Maria Fernanda, Lead HR Business Partner, Kaiser + Kraft
“Being part of WOL was an incredible experience of connection and commitment.”
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Dennis B., Enterprise Collaboration
“I am absolutely convinced that we need this appreciative, generous, open and connecting attitude that WOL conveys to us.”
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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.”
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Michael Trautmann, co-creator of On the Way to New Work podcast and book
“One of the fundamental skills underpinning New Work.”
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Florian S., HR Coordinator, Radisson Hotel Group
“Working Out Loud is one of the most beautiful methods in social learning.”
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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.”
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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.”
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Justin F., Global Wealth Investments, Citibank
“The most corporate-friendly way to create human transformation that I have come across.”
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Kathrin K., HR Consulting & Management
“The energy that my WOL Circle gave me was indescribable.”
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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.”
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Karl B., Data Visualization Specialist, Bayer
“Was like a Jonathan Franzen novel: rewarding on so many levels including those you never knew existed.”
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New List Item
“WOL is the absolute BEST!!!”
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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.”
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Christian H., Division Manager, Teckentrup
“WOL improves collaboration in the organization & promotes knowledge sharing, especially in times of increasing digitalization & remote working.”
Why now is ®
Working Out Loud® is more than one method - it is an attitude that changes management and cooperation sustainably. Right now it turns out: Companies that rely on networking, self-reflection and peer learning not only strengthen their culture-they also increase motivation, performance and binding. (Source: Gallup, State of the Global Workplace Report, 2025)
Strengthen
Only 27 % of managers worldwide are committed and feel emotionally connected to their work.
WOL ® strengthens self -management, reflection and emotional binding - especially in challenging roles.
Activate teams
70 % The team performance depends directly on the quality of social relationships and the emotional bond in the team.
WOL ® promotes psychological security, appreciation and effectiveness - from the inside.
Promote resilience
40 % The workers worldwide feel stressed every day.
WOL ® offers space for reflection, exchange and mental relief - embedded in real connection.
The way we work, lead, and learn is changing – and staying connected matters more than ever. WOL® is one way to get there.
Nine good reasons for Working Out Loud®
Strengthen women and promote diversity.
Strengthen psychological security and team cohesion sustainably.
Give employees a voice and enable real connection.
Promote effective cooperation and strengthen the exchange of knowledge with others.
Targeted central basics and soft skills for leadership.
Dissolve silos between areas, locations and functions.
Active support for new employees in networking and arriving.
Increase resilience, reduce stress and strengthen change.
Employees enable them to design their career path themselves.
How Working Out Loud ® works - in four simple steps
Exchange in small, familiar groups
In so -called circles, 4–5 people work together in a protected room for several weeks - with trust, psychological security and real connection.
Individual goal as a learning engine
Each: R pursues a personal learning or development goal- this strengthens intrinsic motivation and enables sustainable learning through self-reflection and focus.
Structured process with clear exercises
A proven curriculum with weekly impulses, reflection questions and tasks provides orientation and facilitates self -organized learning in the team.
Establish new habits gradually
Continuous practice creates new patterns of thinking and action- they strengthen personal responsibility, joy of learning and the ability to change.
More about the method: What makes Working Out Loud® so special?
Working Out Loud ® (WOL ® ) stands for transparent, open collaboration in diverse teams and networks.
As a social learning method, Wol® is now considered a key competence worldwide for the complex working world of tomorrow. It promotes an open, ready -to -learn attitude, targeted personal networking and appreciative communication at eye level. The various WOL programs are aimed at different target groups and thematic focus-but the basic structure always remains the same: in so-called circles, the participants learn self-organized, goal-oriented and from each other.
WOL ® creates rooms for connection, reflection and self -determined learning.
In the circles, regular exchange creates psychologically safe spaces in which trust can grow - regardless of hierarchy or function. Participants work on their own or shared goals, learn from each other and together. The intrinsic motivation is strengthened, personal development is initiated and concrete progress becomes visible. The method can be easily combined with current transformation and learning strategies.
WOL ® is a powerful tool for cultural change, innovation and sustainable change.
Organizations use WOL to strengthen cross-divisional cooperation, break up silo thinking and promote a more human work culture. Whether for onboarding, retention, diversity, job crafting, resilience or leadership development: WOL works where people want to get connected and grow. The programs can be easily scalable, implementable hybrid and can be flexibly integrated into everyday work - for more connection, more trust and more effect.
Discover our WOL ® programs in detail
WOL® CIRCLES
Peer Learning, networking and self -organization for all employees. Ideal for starting the WOL method.
WOL® Teams
Strengthen cooperation, share knowledge, build trust - for existing teams that want to grow together.
WOL® Resilience
Promote psychological security and inner strength - for employees who want to deliberately deal with stress and change.
WOL® Shopfloor
WOL for production and commercial areas - adapted to everyday work without a screen and desk.
#FrauenStärken
Networking, visibility and empowerment for women - for the targeted promotion of female leadership and careers.
Get to know our certified WOL ® coaches
Our coaches accompany organizations to effectively introduce Working Out Loud®, accompany circles and to ensure sustainable social learning processes in the company. With a lot of experience, methodological depth and real enthusiasm for the connection, development and self -organization, you shape spaces for change - empathetic, clear and practical.
Katharina Krentz
In 2015, Katharina was the first Working Out Loud® to introduce, adapted and distributed internationally - as a grass root initiative, strategically anchored in Mr. She advised numerous companies on the introduction of WOL, accompanied circles and developed several programs (further). It is considered one of the central pioneers of the WOL® movement in Germany. So far, over 6,000 people have participated in the public #FrauenStärken powered by WOL® programs.
Sophie Rickman
Sophie is a passionate WOL user. As a business psychologist, communication consultant and certified WOL® Coachin, she brings well-founded know-how and enthusiasm for social learning processes. Your trip with WOL® started in 2021 in the largest open #FrauenStärken program. Since then she has been part of the CO Creation team and has accompanied companies in the implementation of different formats-including coachin for the WOL® Resilience program.
Jens Wiemann
Jens is UX Designer, Innovation Consultant and WOL® for Teams Coach. He came over the visual redesign of the #FrauenStärkenprogram to WOL and has shaped the global brand image of the movement since then. As part of the co-creation team, it combines design, communication and user experience into a harmonious learning experience. With his focus on teams, effects and change, he accompanies organizations in the introduction of WOL® - strategically, user -centered and with great love for detail.
WOL ® in the press
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26 Lightbulb Moments, Episode 2, May 2024
In this episode of "26 Lightbulb Moments," Anja interviews two prominent advocates of the Working Out Loud (WOL) method: John Stepper and Katharina Krentz. John, the creator and founder of WOL, and Katharina, a transformation facilitator and certified WOL coach, discuss the impact of this peer-to-peer learning method on personal and cultural development in various organizations. They share insights into how WOL promotes collaboration, networking, and lifelong learning, and why it's essential for future success. Listen now.
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Learning is awesome - The Learning Development Blog, July 2022
Katharina Krentz: Almost every Learning & Development expert knows podcasts on the topic of “Working out Loud”. She is the woman who brought Working out Loud to Germany. With “ Connecting Humans ” she not only supports WOL, but also New Work topics in general. At the moment everyone is screaming for New Work - I would like to know from her how employers can remain attractive if we all suddenly only work remotely. Watch now.
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Impulspiloten, April 2022
For today's expert talk, I would like to welcome a very special guest, Katharina Krentz, to our impulse pilot couch. Katha is not only a trainer and speaker for New Work, networking, female empowerment and founder of Connecting Humans , but she is also considered a pioneer of Working Out Loud® - WOL® for short - in Germany. now .
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Changement Magazine, March 2022
A panacea for some, completely overrated for others: tools and methods in change. We examine practitioners and experts and want to find out their perspective and some tips. This time we ask Katharina Krentz. She is considered one of the pioneers in Germany when it comes to working out loud. Read full article.
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kluge+konsorten, October, 2020
The name of our guest today, Katharina Krentz, is particularly associated with the topic of Working Out Loud - one of the most prominent examples of grassroots movements in organizations. Katharina Krentz had the official task in her company of designing a curriculum for the community managers set up in the company. Listen now.
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Haufe, March 2018
Connecting products via the cloud, connecting employees with “Working Out Loud” – that’s one of Bosch’s recipes for digital transformation. You can read how this works in practice here.
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t3n, May 2018
Bosch has been doing it for years, Daimler too, and a number of other large and well-known companies besides them: Working-Out-Loud. But what is that actually? Read full article.
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t3n, May 2019
Working out Loud (WOL®) is a method of making work visible and sharing knowledge - using a structured method in groups. In the t3n podcast, Daimler and Bosch explain how they implement the method in practice. Listen now.
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SWR, LinkedIn, 2021
SWR innovative: With WOL® -Working Out Loud®- against silo mentality, SWR project manager Elian Lieb shares her experiences. Read entire post.
Do you want to find out if a WOL® program is the right one for your company? It is best to arrange a non -binding introductory discussion with one of our certified WOL® coaches. We look forward to your request.
Use the contact form, book an appointment with us or write us an email to wol@connecting-humans.de
