Microsoft Sweden

Microsoft changed the structure of their offices in Stockholm, to increase the possibilites for their employees to work anywhere at anytime, and to enable and facilitate cross-functional collaboration. Microsoft call this approach “The New World of Work”, and focuses on how to combine today’s technology, the place we work, and the people in the organization to be truly productive.

The end in mind is to get people to spend more time on the things that are moving the organization, their teams and themselves forward.

FranklinCoveys training program “The 5 Choices”, combines timeless principles with current neuroscience research to help better manage decisions, attention, and energy to consistently make choices that give the greatest return on time. Activities we call “Quadrant 2” activities or “Big Rocks”.

FranklinCovey together with Microsoft HR created a set-up of The 5 Choices program that would support Microsoft in “The New World of Work”.

The program started with a training for the Swedish Microsoft Management Team, which then has continued with all Microsoft employees. Until today more than 200 people have participated in the program, consisting of the following steps:

1. A 1 ½-hour start-up meeting (live or webinar) to clarify the why, the what and the how of the program.
2. The actual training process (live or webinar), with both individual and group exercises in all 5 Choices after which all participants are given commitments to work on; concrete activities that are designed to help people to a higher productivity level.
3. A 1½-hour report session (live or webinar), where we measure results, share ideas and best practices.

After the program, the participants reported 6-8 more hours spent on things that are moving the organization forward in a sustainable way – every week per employee.

It is all about working smarter, not harder, and together with colleagues to create a culture of sustainable productivity.