Atomic Thinking

9 Months into Working from Home, These 6 Things Are Helping Atoms Endure

Way back in March, I surveyed each employee (Atom) at Atomic Object. I tried to get a sense of how we managed to quickly shift from working 100% on-site to 100% remote in a day, with very little notice. (The answers included Discord, Slack, and 1:1 check-ins.) Surely our speedy office exodus was enabled by […]

Managing the Sustainable Pace, Expectations, and Work/Life Balance at a Software Consultancy

Working at a software consultancy is a challenging, competitive, and, at times, stress-filled experience. It is also filled with huge opportunities for learning and growth that you won’t find anywhere else. That, for me, makes Atomic Object one of the most rewarding places that I’ve ever worked. Many of the people I’ve worked with are […]

Why You Need an EOS Rock Charter for Each Quarterly Rock

If you follow Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) practices like we do, you’ve probably found that — despite your hard work — the execution of your Rocks doesn’t always go smoothly. Deadlines can slip, and the actual results of the work don’t always align with everyone’s expectations. At Atomic, we’ve found that these challenges have almost […]

Are You Sympathetic to Others’ Joy, or Just Their Sorrow?

The title of this post might seem oxymoronic. “Isn’t sympathy reserved for people’s struggles?” you might ask. Turns out, it’s not. The most powerful impact of your sympathy might be when it’s directed at people’s triumphs. What Is Sympathetic Joy? Sympathetic joy is just what it sounds like — focusing your powers of sympathy on […]

Reinventing an Atomic Tradition for Pandemic Conditions

As I write this, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to loom large in almost every aspect of life. Atomic Object is open and thriving as a company, but our offices remain closed, and our employees are working remotely. Returning to our physical offices in Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and Chicago still remains an important part of […]

Refining Our Sales Pipeline

Over the past year, we’ve done extra work on our company processes and practices. We’ve been fortunate — Atomic has a diverse set of clients and more demand than we can adequately supply. That said, there’s always room for improvement, and during these tough economic times, we’ve focused especially on improving our sales process. Part […]

1-on-1 Meetings: More Important than Ever

In normal times, having regular 1-on-1 meetings with your direct reports is important. In this socially distant era, these connection points are essential. As a manager, you are the most vital link between your direct reports and the organization. When we’re all remote, you need to replace the passive communication you once used to keep […]