All organizations have a choice in how they share information and involve their teams in decision-making.
At thoughtbot, transparency is a tool and guiding principle that supports how we work, emerging from the intersection of our values of Self-Management and Trust.
Self-Management means that we don’t need someone to tell us what to do, nor do we expect to ask for permission. Instead, we use the information available to make informed decisions. We are honest with ourselves and ask for help when we need it.
Trust means we’re honest with each other, share information openly, and we give and receive feedback in good faith. When we ask for help, we trust that the input we receive is constructive and thoughtful.
Transparency ensures that we have access to information and resources to make decisions and collaborate effectively. It allows us to build and share knowledge, not only among current teammates, but also by learning from those who came before us. Open dialogue and documentation are crucial to this process.
Because transparency is a daily practice, it becomes easier to share knowledge, foster understanding, and provide direction for decision-making. This consistency helps us improve over time, creating stability even in times of change. As a result, when uncertainty arises, whether due to industry shifts, economic changes, tumultuous political climates, or any other number of reasons, we’re already prepared to leverage transparent communication to help us navigate complex issues together.
Sharing Financial Goals and Metrics
Transparency provides the context we need, including financial clarity, to take shared responsibility for our company. For years, our Finance Director, Becky Dunbar, has communicated our 10% margin goal, explaining how this margin supports our long-term sustainability and impacts decision-making across individuals, teams, and management.
Teams also share their goals for the year, making it easier to align priorities, track measurable results, and hold ourselves accountable as a collective.
Creating Dedicated Space for Ongoing Dialogue and Questions
Each quarter, we hold a synchronous all-hands meeting, called the “State of thoughtbot,” where teams and leadership share key updates about the company’s performance, goals, strategy, and operational approach. Presentations are followed by a Q&A where people can ask any questions, publicly or anonymously.
In between State of thoughtbots, we also host quarterly “Coffee Chats with Chad,” where our CEO, Chad Pytel, responds to anonymous questions from the team. Both State of thoughtbot and Coffee Chat with Chad are recorded, enabling teammates to revisit the content and responses asynchronously.
These regularly scheduled check-ins are important to us because, like our client retros, they provide a dedicated space with equal access to stakeholders. This allows us to candidly discuss the company’s direction and to participate in meaningful conversations - whether that’s to address concerns early, or to further examine those that have already surfaced. By consistently showing up and making time for each other, we reinforce trust - not by having all the answers or by being perfect, but by being reliably present, receptive, and willing to engage and realign.
Providing a Clear Way for All to Propose Changes and Improvements
Transparency goes beyond sharing information. It helps us create a culture where everyone has a voice in how we steer the ship. When we have improvements or concerns about thoughtbot itself, we document them using GitHub Issues, making them visible, accessible, and open for input.
Any teammate can raise a GitHub issue, offer feedback, or propose improvements, ideas, and experiments, making building a better thoughtbot an ongoing and collective effort.
If a proposed change is agreed upon, we create a pull request (PR) to update our Handbook, Playbook, or Guides. GitHub Issues and PRs remain open for at least a week, so teammates across various regions, teams, and timezones have the opportunity to weigh in. While this process takes time, the results are powerful and empowering, allowing ideas to evolve thoughtfully and inclusively, incorporating the valuable perspectives, expertise, and aspirations of the whole team.
Although transparency doesn’t guarantee that every suggestion or shared piece of information leads to immediate change, it helps us build a culture where all teammates are informed, heard, and respected. Decisions and improvements, even when difficult or slow to implement, can be made with care, consideration, and collective insight.
By working transparently, we strengthen trust, empower engagement, and ensure that thoughtbot continues to evolve and adapt to meet the moment. Not through top-down mandates, but through informed choices and collaboration, so we all rise together on the vision and voices of our team.
