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The Book
Free Range Management
How to manage knowledge workers by creating space
A book by Steve Tauber and Andreas Creten
Leading a team has never been more difficult, or easier. Whether you are a first-time manager or want to improve the culture of an existing team, this concise manual lays out the processes, structure and approach needed to lead knowledge workers, with key takeaways and pragmatic first steps in every chapter.
E-book €9.30 on Amazon. The print edition is sold out.
The idea
Two words: create space
The trick is doing that in a way where employees and managers are happy. If you are paid to think, you are a knowledge worker, and this is a practical guide to managing knowledge workers, structuring teams and shaping the work.
Freedom
Throughout the years, we developed a management style that is rooted in freedom, mainly because we wanted each team member to be able to manage themselves.
Giving space
We strive for an environment where each individual can be the best version of themselves while slowly steering them in the right direction. By giving them the space, we allow their creativity and sense of responsibility to flourish.
Frameworks & tools
This book documents what we've learned along the way. It's composed of several chapters, each focused on frameworks and tools needed to create space.
What's inside
Nine chapters, 112 pages
Tightly edited and highly visual, with illustrations by Tinne Cornelissen, handy to-do lists and concrete examples.
Chapter 1
p. 8
Assess outcomes
Outcomes versus output · Autonomy
Chapter 2
p. 18
Embrace feedback
Structured feedback · Planned feedback · Unplanned feedback · Changing behavior
Chapter 3
p. 32
Encourage psychological safety
High performance and more · Measuring psychological safety · Influencing the atmosphere · Imposter syndrome · README
Chapter 4
p. 42
Define clear tasks
Big picture · Double diamond · Betting · Roadmap and passports · Data-informed prioritization · Chunk and split
Chapter 5
p. 58
Create focus
Focus time · Focus strategies · Defending the team · Remote focus
Chapter 6
p. 68
Support collaboration
Async versus synchronous work · Meeting management · Liberating structures · Communicating asynchronously · Distributed collaboration · Cultures · Mentoring · Delegation · Schedule flexibility
Chapter 7
p. 80
Monitor healthy habits
Recharging · Burnout · Motivation
Chapter 8
p. 88
Become knowledge-first
Definition · Transparency · Reflex to document · Organizing information · Creative time
Chapter 9
p. 100
Build the team
Hire fast · Metrics to hire · The hiring process · Free Range worker · Diversity, inclusion, & equity · Onboarding · Fire slow
Readers
What readers think
Before I read the first page I thought it was courageous, maybe even stupid, to attempt to provide answers to all the challenges new managers encounter. I struggled with this expectation during the first part of the book but then started understanding exactly what Steve and Andreas set out to achieve: to help managers on their way, giving just enough pointers to get them going without going in-depth, risking to provide advice that just won't work in the specific scenario you're in.
Marijn Vandevoorde
VP Engineering, Urbantz
Far too many businesses spend a lot of money to get highly skilled knowledge workers and then don't give them the space to do their best work. This hurts workers' job happiness, but also, ironically, the businesses' bottom lines. Steve and Andreas get this and have laid out a very clear recipe that I wish more business owners and managers would use.
Radan Skorić
CEO & Software development consultant
This book contains many of the best practices I've been applying to build high performance teams over the years. It's great and a fast read too.
Anna Sandgren
Venture Builder, Zinc VC
As a knowledge worker myself, the combination of theoretical know-how and practical actions provided by Steve and Andreas have given me plenty of insight in how I can apply this within the organization I am a part of.
Tobie Devries
Tech Lead & Backend developer
I love the quick, practical read that is Free Range Management. It's hard to argue with the premise of autonomy and accountability and how to encourage that. I also love the illustrations by Tinne Cornelissen, which more books like this should have.
Andrew Peterson
Manager of Technology QA & Tech Communications, Costco Travel
Managing knowledge workers in a remote context is a true challenge in these high-paced and changing times, this book gave me helpful insights and practical get-to-go tools to grow as a company.
Charlotte de Roey
Head of HR, Tinkerlist
About the authors
Steve Tauber and Andreas Creten
Andreas Creten
CEO and co-founder, madewithlove
Andreas is CEO and co-founder of madewithlove, a remote-first company from Belgium building digital products since 2008. He helps product companies set up for success by pivoting the organisation: to be user-centred, to help employees flourish, and to use technology in the best way for usability, quality and speed.
Steve Tauber
CTO in residence
As a firefighting CTO and lead due diligence auditor, Steve knows what makes startups succeed or fail. He joins companies to help them through troubling times as they reshape and prepare for the future. Originally from the US, he now lives in Croatia.
Become a free range manager
And make the teams you work with thrive. The e-book is €9.30 on Amazon.
madewithlove · 112 pages · ISBN 9789464664737