Stop Fixing, Start Refactoring

We call it "organizational baggage" and tell people to leave it at the door.

But that's missing the point.

What we label as baggage is actually cultural debt—accumulated over years within our teams and systems. It parallels technical debt in our codebases. Both are artifacts of history, decisions, and experiences.

Organizations attempt grand transformations, such as big announcements, offsite retreats, and new mission statements.

It’s a start but not enough.

Real organizational change doesn't happen through ceremonies. It happens through consistent refactoring.

Consider that:

Silencing small concerns lets them grow into baggage.

Ignoring minor frictions makes them cultural burdens.

Waiting for the "big fix" is a problem.

The healthiest teams don't avoid baggage—that's impossible. Instead, they create environments where people can identify and address small issues immediately.

A powerful way to do this is through structured retrospective meetings using the "4 Ls" framework:

• Liked: What's working well to preserve?
• Learned: What insights have we gained?
• Loathed: What friction points need addressing?
• Longed for: What opportunities do we see?

This framework transforms vague "baggage" into specific, actionable items. Regularly sharing what teams loathe prevents buried resentment. Expressing their longings drives tomorrow's improvement.

They speak up.

They adjust.

They continuously refactor.

This means setting aside monthly time for team members to share their 4 Ls. The magic happens when "loathed" items from one session become "liked" items in the next, showing the power of continuous refactoring.

This is the paradox of organizational health: The teams with no baggage aren't the ones with perfect cultures. They're the ones that treat cultural maintenance as an everyday practice rather than a special event.

The question isn't "How do we eliminate our baggage?"

"Have we created a system for people to speak up about small issues before they become baggage?"

Because we can't discard cultural debt.

It's something to refactor.