While the intent to improve feedback was strong, the organization lacked a consolidated fact base in its current culture. Leaders needed clarity on employees’ lived experiences and the systemic barriers preventing open dialogue. We were tasked with translating these intangibles into tangible insights, grounding leadership’s vision for cultural change in authentic organizational reality.

89North designed and executed a structured diagnostic study to capture the real pulse of the organization. The intervention sought to not only understand what feedback looked like across levels but also reveal the underlying beliefs and systems shaping those behaviors. This became the foundation on which future culture-building and leadership development efforts could be anchored.

• Design of Diagnostic Approach To ensure depth and representativeness, the 89North team curated a cross-sectional sample cutting across hierarchies, tenures, and functions. Special emphasis was placed on including people managers with wide spans of control and employees from critical functions. We intentionally built in diversity of perspectives, including high performers and women professionals, ensuring that the findings reflected the organization’s true voice and varied experiences.
• Creating Conditions for Psychological Safety Upon recognizing that honest feedback cannot exist without trust, we, at 89North, began by establishing a psychologically safe environment for every participant. The purpose, process, and confidentiality protocols were communicated with complete transparency. Neutral facilitators from our team led discussions to encourage candid sharing, ensuring that insights emerged without fear, bias, or repercussion.
• Methodology
  We employed a mix of semi-structured interviews and focus group conversations anchored on open-ended prompts. These sessions explored participants’ comfort levels with feedback, the frequency and nature of exchanges, and their expectations from leaders. By capturing verbatim employee inputs, we ensured that every insight carried the authenticity of the employee voice rather than filtered interpretations.
• Synthesis & Reporting
  The 89North consulting team synthesized findings to reveal both strengths and systemic opportunities. On one hand, the data reflected pride in the organization and recognition of progressive policies; on the other, it highlighted barriers such as hierarchical treatment, limited cross-functional collaboration, and leadership role-modeling gaps. 89North presented these insights through a comprehensive report, equipping the leadership team with reflection questions and strategic considerations for action.