Leadership Manifesto

# **Leadership Manifesto, John Bacus**

As the leader of **Trimble Design Studio**, I recognize that my role is not to micromanage but to **set the vision, empower leaders, and create the conditions for great work to happen**. My leadership must be **sustainable**, balancing **strategic thinking, creative exploration, and team autonomy**. This manifesto defines the principles I will follow to lead without burnout while ensuring my team thrives.

## **1\. I Lead by Vision, Not By Over-Involvement**

My **primary responsibility** is to **define the design studio’s direction**, not to execute every decision. I **trust my regional leaders** to own their domains and will empower them to lead **without bottlenecks**. I will set **clear guiding principles** so teams can make decisions aligned with our shared goals.

### **What This Means in Practice**

- I will focus on **long-term design strategy and studio evolution**, not day-to-day tasks.  
- I will delegate operational decisions and **only step in when truly necessary**.  
- I will ensure that my vision is clear so that others **don’t have to second-guess decisions**.

## **2\. I Prioritize Deep Work & Thoughtful Decision-Making**

My best leadership comes from **clarity and depth of thinking**—not from reacting to constant inputs. I will **protect my cognitive energy** by limiting distractions and **batching my availability**. I will favor **decisiveness over perfectionism**—choosing **progress over endless deliberation**.

### **What This Means in Practice**

- I will set **focus hours** for strategic thinking, free from meetings and synchronous communication.  
- I will follow the **70% rule**—if a decision is 70% right and reversible, I will move forward.  
- I will use **asynchronous updates** to avoid unnecessary real-time meetings.

## **3\. I Empower Leaders & Decentralize Decision-Making**

My role is to **build other leaders, not be the sole problem-solver**. I will delegate decisions based on **ownership, not approval chains**. I will encourage **independent thinking** and support my team in **owning outcomes**.

### **What This Means in Practice**

- I will **give feedback without taking over**—coaching rather than directing.  
- I will define **clear operating principles** so my team can act with confidence.

## **4\. I Design Systems That Reduce Complexity**

The best leadership is **designing environments where people can do their best work** without friction. I will cut **unnecessary processes, meetings, and reporting loops** that slow us down. I will ensure **cross-regional collaboration is efficient**, respecting time zones and working styles.

### **What This Means in Practice**

- I will streamline **how design feedback and decisions are made** to avoid bottlenecks.  
- I will ensure **each region operates efficiently while staying aligned with the global vision**.

## **5\. I Maintain Boundaries to Protect My Energy & Longevity**

**Sustainable leadership** means leading in a way that I can maintain for years. I will set **clear work boundaries** to avoid exhaustion and decision fatigue. I will make time for **creative exploration, learning, and personal recharge**—because my best leadership comes from a place of intellectual curiosity, not depletion.

### **What This Means in Practice**

- I will set **defined work hours** and **shut off work mentally after hours**.  
- I will protect my **weekends and evenings** to maintain creative and personal balance.  
- I will spend time on **intellectual growth**, exploring new ideas that fuel my leadership.

I am committed to **leading with clarity, efficiency, and trust**—not overextending myself through unnecessary involvement. By designing a **smarter leadership approach**, I will empower my team, make decisions faster, and maintain **a sustainable and fulfilling leadership role**.

I will hold myself accountable to these principles and adjust as needed to ensure that **both I and my team thrive.**