A Modern Work Manifesto for High-Functioning Teams

The modern workplace isn’t defined by open office plans, remote policies, or tech stacks—it’s defined by how we work together. With rapid change becoming the norm, high-functioning teams can no longer rely on legacy thinking or rigid rules. They need philosophies, not just playbooks.

That was the central message of Atlassian’s Modern Work Coach Mark Cruth in his energizing session. Drawing from real-world examples, behavioral science, and plenty of audience interaction, Cruth unveiled eight foundational principles that are reshaping modern collaboration.

Key Takeaways:

• Vocation over Location: Where we work matters less than how we work; teams must invest in workflows and rituals, not just physical spaces.
• Evolution over Transformation: Small, consistent changes lead to sustained progress more effectively than one-time, top-down overhauls.
• Context over Content: In a world flooded with information, smart decisions depend on clarity, not more data.
• Adaptability over Adherence: Teams that can flex their processes beat those that rigidly follow the rules.

The Challenge of Predicting the Future—and Why It Doesn’t Matter

Cruth opened by dismantling the illusion of certainty. Referencing corporate missteps like Blockbuster, Nokia, and Kodak, he emphasized how organizations that clung to outdated models—even when innovation was in hand—ended up irrelevant. These weren’t failures of technology; they were failures of mindset.

Rather than trying to predict the future, Cruth advocated focusing on what teams can do today. Being a “modern work coach” means helping teams improve incrementally by solving problems in the present—not waiting for perfect alignment with a hypothetical future.

Eight Principles for Modern Teams

At the core of Atlassian’s philosophy is a Modern Work Manifesto: eight principles that offer guidance—not rules—for navigating complex, fast-paced environments. Each principle is structured as a preference between two valuable things, with the former being more effective in modern contexts.

1. Vocation over Location

Remote, hybrid, or in-office—none of it works without intentional workflows. Cruth stressed that many companies focused too much on “where” during the return-to-office conversation and not enough on “how.” Atlassian’s own Playbook includes dozens of practices for things like asynchronous collaboration, retrospectives, and OKRs, all designed to support distributed teams.

2. Outcomes over Outputs

Outputs—like emails sent or hours billed—are easy to track but not always meaningful. High-functioning teams define success by outcomes: the real-world impact of their work. Cruth reminded the audience that busyness is not a proxy for effectiveness.

3. Evolution over Transformation

“Transformation” sounds impressive but is often unsustainable. Many companies undergo massive organizational shifts, only to find themselves back where they started. Cruth compared these efforts to running a 5K without training. Evolution, on the other hand, is about incremental, lasting change—building habits that endure.

4. Flow over Silos

Silos can be useful for mastery, but they break down when teams need to collaborate. Cruth argued for prioritizing “flow”—the seamless movement of work across functions—over rigid verticals. Atlassian’s “network of teams” approach encourages cross-functional collaboration from day one.

5. Context over Content

Modern employees are overwhelmed by tools and data. Cruth cited research showing that the average worker pulls information from 11 platforms. But decisions aren’t made with more content—they’re made with better context. Atlassian reduces noise by offering concise project updates and clear signals for decision-making.

6. Team over Individual

While individual brilliance is valuable, it’s the collective that drives performance. Cruth emphasized team dynamics—communication, mutual accountability, and shared goals—as the key to scalable success. Tools, he noted, should serve team coordination, not just individual productivity.

7. Better over Bigger

During the tech hiring boom, companies scaled rapidly—sometimes recklessly. Bigger isn’t always better. Cruth encouraged leaders to optimize for quality, passion, and alignment rather than headcount. Atlassian, for example, learned hard lessons from its own aggressive growth targets.

8. Adaptability over Adherence

Rules and structure have their place, but the ability to break them at the right time is what sets great teams apart. Drawing from examples like Formula 1 racing and real-time decision-making, Cruth illustrated how adaptability under pressure often leads to outsized results.

Turning Kryptonite into Superpowers

At the end of the session, Cruth asked the audience to reflect: Which of these eight principles is your organization already great at? Which feels like kryptonite? Identifying these is the first step. The second? Making small, intentional changes to turn weak points into strengths.

He closed with a powerful reminder: “Dysfunction is the gap between what you know and what you apply.” If teams return from conferences inspired but unchanged, then even the best ideas remain untapped potential.

Manifestos, Mindsets, and Momentum

The Modern Work Manifesto isn’t a to-do list—it’s a lens. As teams navigate hybrid work, AI integration, and evolving customer demands, these eight principles offer a framework for clarity, focus, and real human collaboration.

Because the future of work doesn’t just happen. It’s built one conversation, one decision, and one evolved habit at a time.