Intervention playbook — match cause to practical actions

Use this checklist to move from hypothesis to pragmatic intervention. Pick one small test per barrier and measure its effect.

Barrier: Low recognition

• Start a weekly public recognition ritual (15–30 seconds per person).
• Ask managers to give one concrete, documented praise note per week.
• Implement a low-friction peer-recognition channel and pilot it for one month.

Barrier: High workload or burnout signals

• Run a short workload audit: identify top 3 tasks that could be deprioritized.
• Rebalance assignments or provision temporary help for 4–8 weeks.
• Adjust deadlines or scope for non-essential work.

Barrier: Unclear priorities or goals

• Run a 60-minute alignment session to update and publish sprint-level priorities.
• Ask managers to confirm top 3 team priorities in a single shared doc.

Barrier: Manager capability or bandwidth

• Run manager coaching sprints: 1:1 coaching for 4 weeks with simple behaviours (microskills checklist).
• Set an expectation: at least one meaningful 1:1 per fortnight and track completion.

Barrier: Single-event or policy shock (reorg, major change)

• Organize an AMA with leadership to explain purpose and next steps.
• Provide manager Q&A notes and suggested conversation scripts.

Checklist before you start any intervention

1. Define success: what will change and how you will measure it.
2. Assign a single owner and a check-in cadence (owner, due date).
3. Keep the test small (time-boxed, limited scope).
4. Decide how you will collect quick feedback (10-minute pulse, meeting observations).