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Working in a Teal Organisation: The Hatmill Experience
The Hatmill Experience: Embracing Teal Principles
What if your workplace had no bosses, no rigid hierarchy, and no need to ask permission to lead change?
At Hatmill, we didn’t set out to become a Teal organisation. It happened organically. In the early years, it was just how we all preferred to work. As we grew, we came to realise that our way of working aligned with the principles described by Frederic Laloux: self-management, wholeness, and evolutionary purpose. These aren’t just buzzwords, they’re at the core of how we operate.
What Teal means to us at Hatmill
Teal in Hatmill means everyone is trusted to make decisions, lead initiatives, and bring their whole selves to work. There’s no traditional hierarchy. Instead, we use tools like the Advice Process, where anyone can decide, provided they seek input from those affected or with relevant expertise.
We’ve built a culture where people feel safe speaking up, taking ownership, and challenging the status quo. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.
Challenges of working in a Teal organisation
Working in a Teal organisation isn’t without its hurdles. Some of the biggest challenges we’ve encountered so far include:
- Decision-making without hierarchy: It can be hard to know who should take the lead, especially when everyone has a voice.
- Feedback culture: Peer-led appraisals can feel uncomfortable at first. Giving and receiving honest feedback takes courage and practice.
- Balancing autonomy with accountability: With freedom comes responsibility. We’ve had to learn how to hold each other to account without formal management structures.
Overcoming challenges in a Teal environment
- Clear processes: The Advice Process gives structure to decision-making without stifling autonomy.
- Transparent pay reviews: Everyone is appraised by their peers, and feedback directly informs pay decisions.
- Coaching and support: Our external coaches, Nicola and Pippa, help team members navigate personal and professional growth, ensuring no one feels adrift.
We also invest time in reflection and learning. Regular check-ins, retrospectives, and open conversations help us stay aligned and evolve as a team.
Why Teal works for Hatmill
Clients often tell us they can feel the difference. Our consultants are empowered, engaged, and authentic. They don’t just deliver, they co-create, adapt, and lead. That’s the Teal advantage.
Reflecting on the principles of Teal, do you believe your business could thrive without traditional hierarchies? What steps would be necessary to foster a culture where every individual feels empowered to lead and innovate? You can read more about Teal in Frederic Laloux‘s book, Reinventing Organizations.
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