The Showing Up Operating System
A measurable, scalable system that helps organizations identify and resolve human pain points, strengthen communication, and lead well through uncertainty.
The most complex problems in organizations right now are human ones.
We are living and working in a time of constant disruption.
The pace is fast. The ground keeps shifting. And in a world defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, people are carrying more than they say.
At the same time, work has become more digital, more distributed, and more transactional. Much of our interaction now happens through screens instead of face-to-face.
But the deeper shift is not just how we work; it’s how much is being asked of people. The pace has accelerated, expectations have expanded, and for many, there simply isn’t enough capacity to absorb it all.
This is creating a kind of pressure inside organizations that has never been experienced at any point in history.
Not just operational pressure. Human disruption.
Only 21% of employees are engaged at work.
The majority are disengaged or struggling.
Source: Gallup.The Human Operating System Under Pressure
The human nervous system is built for survival, not sustained disruption.
In short bursts, stress helps us respond. But when disruption becomes constant, the system doesn’t fully reset. People remain in a prolonged state of activation, and the way they think, communicate, and respond begins to shift.
Under this level of pressure…
→ Thinking narrows
→ Reactivity increases
→ Energy is conserved
→ Communication becomes less direct
People hesitate. They second-guess. They avoid the people and the moments that shape culture.
This is what we call the Awkward Zone®: The space where something feels off, but it’s unclear what to do next. What starts as a small moment doesn’t stay small.
Conversations get delayed, signals get missed, and over time, these patterns compound into misalignment, burnout, and organizational pain points.
The Barbell
Most workplaces are over-relying on two forms of care—while leaving a critical gap in the middle.
On one side: clinical care. On the other: self-care.
Both matter.
But both place the responsibility on the individual—
often when their capacity is already depleted.
What the research shows
Research from Oxford University Wellbeing Research Centre, analyzing over 46,000 employees, found that widely used interventions like mindfulness apps and resilience training had no measurable impact on employee well-being.
The concluding findings of the study? That solutions needed to change the workplace, not just the worker.
Source: Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre.Where this shows up in organizations
When this gap goes unaddressed, relational patterns emerge:
One-to-one communication becomes group electronic information sharing
Trust erodes
Friction builds across teams
Burnout increases
Accountability becomes harder to maintain
These are all signs that people have not been given the structure or skills to navigate human complexity in a world defined by constant change.
What the human system actually needs
What’s missing? Supportive leadership, bolstered by day-to-day human interaction.
The moments between managers and employees, peers and teammates, where work is actually experienced.
Decades of research show that engagement, and therefore performance, is driven largely by what happens between people, especially in day-to-day interactions with managers and teams (Gallup).
When support becomes consistent and skillful, communication improves, trust strengthens, and people are better able to stay connected while still maintaining expectations.
Performance then becomes the outcome of a healthy human operating system.
Highly engaged teams are up to 23% more profitable
than those with low engagement.
Source: Gallup.
The Solution
The Showing Up Operating System is built for this reality.
It is a connected system of research-backed programs and practical skills and tools that helps organizations:
Identify the foundational organizational pain points
Build relational and leadership skills to address them
Create consistency in how people communicate and respond
Sustain change over time
This is not a one-time training.
It is a way of operating - a repeatable approach to strengthening how people lead and function together through uncertainty.
The Process
Our work follows a clear and repeatable process that moves organizations from insight to action to sustained change.
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We begin by surfacing real organizational pain points through both data and human insight. This step helps organizations understand how people are actually experiencing their work, where friction is occurring, and what patterns are driving culture and performance.
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From there, we create shared clarity around what needs to change and why. Leaders and teams develop a common understanding of priorities, expectations, and the behaviors that will move the organization forward.
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Once there is alignment, we focus on building the concrete, practical skills people need in everyday moments. This includes how to navigate difficult conversations, respond to pressure, and lead with both steadiness and accountability.
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Finally, we integrate these skills and behaviors into the organization’s existing systems and rhythms so that change is sustained over time, rather than dependent on a single initiative or moment.
The Showing Up Operating System
A measurable, scalable, sustainable, and interconnected system of research-backed programs. Start at any point in the system.
How It Works
We work directly with you to design a training, learning, and development pathway that suits your organization’s needs.
You can start at any point in the system. Each part of the Showing Up Operating System plays a distinct role, but they are designed to work together as a cohesive whole.
The Programs
Learn more about each module of the Operating System and its associated programs. Each offering and pathway is highly customizable.
Discovery & Assessment
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Measure and uncover your organization’s human pain points through our proprietary relational/behavioral metrics, so we know what we are solving for. Every organization is different, and this step ensures the work is grounded in real conditions rather than assumptions. Most organizations begin here.
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→ Anonymous Pre-Survey for Benchmark Quantitative Data
→ Discovery Presentation with proprietary data
→ Discovery breakouts for qualitative data
Core Culture: Showing Up Skills
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Build the relational, peer-to-peer foundation that helps teams support one another through pressure and change. People learn how to show up for each other in real moments of stress, struggle, and uncertainty. This is where culture begins to shift in everyday interactions.
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→ Showing Up Keynote / Webinar
→ Showing Up Workshop / Book Studies / Discussion
→ Awkward Zone Workshop: Peer-to-Peer
→ Team Connections Workshop
→ Support Profiles
Leadership: Lifting Up Skills
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Equip managers and leaders with the skills required to guide others through challenges while maintaining strong communication, accountability, and performance. This includes knowing when and how to step in, what to say, and how to follow through.
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→ Lifting Up Keynote / Webinar
→ Lifting Up Workshop / Book Studies / Discussion
→ Lifting Up Awkward Zone Workshop
→ Lifting Up Leadership Series: Micro Skills
→ The Supportive Conversation Method
→ Support Profiles
Certifications & Scaling
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Develop internal trainers and leaders who can sustain and expand the work across the organization. We build internal capability so the work continues long after the initial engagement.
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→ Showing Up Certified Trainer Certification
→ Lifting Up Certified Trainer Certification
→ Certified Organizational Trainer Certification
→ Peer Leader Certification
→ Project Comfort Youth Program Certification
Specialized Programs
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Apply the Operating System in high-impact environments and contexts: including crisis response, healthcare, education, youth programs, and sector-specific applications where the human stakes are especially high.
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→ Project Comfort Youth Program
→ Crisis Response & Sector-Specific Programs
→ Consulting & Coaching
What’s the ROI?
Leading research reveals that when leaders and teams are equipped to navigate hard moments effectively, it over time leads to stronger retention, healthier culture, and outperforming competitors by significant returns.
11x
Lower absentee rates
3x
Higher retention rates
2x
As likely to “delight” customers
2x
More likely to exceed financial targets
2x
More likely to be defined as a “great place to work”
Source: MIT.
Work with us!
Interested in learning more about the Showing Up Operating System, our work and offerings, and how it could work within your organization, team, or group? Fill out the form below and we’ll schedule a time to chat!
