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Select WorldBlu certified Organizations Include:

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Who Is Eligible?

Any for-profit, non-profit, governmental, educational or sports organization with 10 or more full or part-time employees (that has been in business for at least one full year) and believes in freedom rather than fear in the workplace is eligible to apply for certification.

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How Does it Work?

A select number of your employees take our robust and substantial 10-15 minute Freedom at Work Scorecard which measures how freedom-centered your organization is. If your aggregated score is 3.5 (or higher) out of 5.0, your organization earns our prestigious certification. 

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Fee & what's included?

The Freedom at Work Scorecard fee is tiered based on your annual revenue. With it, you receive your full results, a two-hour consultation on your results with custom recommendations for the next steps, unlimited logo usage (if certified), invitations to live events, access to a top world-class community, and more!

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What's
the ROI?

Organizations that practice more freedom and less fear in their leadership style and culture are proven to have on average 7x greater revenue growth (over a three-year period) compared to the S&P 500.  They also attract and retain top talent, have more engaged and innovative cultures, are more resilient, and are a top employer of choice.

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Application Deadline?

We accept organizations to apply for certification at any time throughout the year. 

You're Invited to Apply for the
World's Most Prestigious
Leadership and Culture Award

Attract top talent, boost morale and let the everyone know
you've got a top culture by getting WorldBlu certified!

Is it the Great Resignation – or the Great Escape?

Increasingly, the best and brightest want more than a paycheck –
they want to work in a healthy workplace culture based in freedom rather than fear. 

 According to Zogby's and TeamStage’s Company Culture Statistics: Leadership and Engagement in 2022:

 + 88% of job seekers say that a healthy workplace culture is vital for their success.

+ 69% of employees would work harder if they received more recognition.

+ Having highly engaged employees can lead to a 202% in performance

+ 81% of employees believe that could do better at their job if they had more freedom. 

WorldBlu certification isn't a generic culture award - it's a
stand that you take for a more collaborative, decentralized, and dignified
way of working that gives real power to your power.

That’s why, since 2007, we’ve been identifying
the most freedom-centered organizations in the world.

 

What does freedom in the workplace mean?

Scroll down and check out where we identify the
10 principles of a freedom-centered workplace.

Then, if our approach resonates with you, we invite you to apply for our
prestigious certification. 

Help us reach our vision of seeing one billion people
working in Freedom-Centered Organizations worldwide.

Join other top companies around the world, such as DaVita, Widen,
WD-40, GE Aviation Durham, Mindvalley, Menlo Innovations, and hundreds
more all committed to impacting billions for good by advancing
freedom in the world through the way we lead our organizations.

Join the Movement

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OUR IMPACT GLOBALLY

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100+

The number of countries where we've trained CEOs and top leaders to lead with freedom over fear

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200+

Number of WorldBlu certified Freedom-Centered Organizations™

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1 MILLION+

Number of Employees Working in WorldBlu certified Freedom-Centered Organizations™

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Our Certification Process
at a glance

Here are the 5 steps to our
certification process. 
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Apply Now

Click the "Apply Now" button and complete a short application. Once we receive your application, we'll reach out to set up a call with you. 

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Talk With Us

Set up a call with us so we can get to know you and make sure that your organization is a right fit for the certification.

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Take the Scorecard

Have a select number of your employees complete the Freedom at Work Scorecard. 

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Get Your Results

Get your complete results, available both online and in a beautiful PDF format, along with a two-hour consultation call with our team.

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Certification

If your organization achieves the required minimum overall score of 3.5 out of 5.0 or higher, you join our prestigious global community as a WorldBlu certified Freedom-Centered Organization.

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Here's How our
Freedom at Work Scorecard Works

Your organization will take the Freedom at Work Scorecard
to get certified. Check out this short video which
explains how it works and what it measures. 

 

HubSpot Video

 

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What does it mean to be a
Freedom-Centered Organization?

What does it mean to be a Freedom-Centered Organization?

 

It means designing your culture with the
principles of freedom rather than fear,
with democratic rather than hierarchical or
command and control leadership. 

 

More specifically, after a decade of research,
we've identified the 10 principles of organizational democracy,
the framework for freedom in the workplace.

 

If your organization believes in practicing the principles below,
you're a great candidate for certification. 

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    Purpose + vision

    When each individual and the organization know their reason for being and have a sense of intentional direction.

  • dialogue

    dialogue + listening

    When each individual listens and engages in conversation in a way that deepens meaning and connection.

  • Fairness and Dignity

    fairness + dignity

    When each individual is treated justly and impartially and is recognized for their inherent worth.

  • transparency

    transparency

    When ideas and information are openly and responsibly shared.

  • account

    accountability

    When each individual and the organization are responsible to each other for their actions.

  • collective

    individual + collective

    When the rights of both are valued and respected.

  • Choice

    choice

    When each individual chooses between different possibilities.

  • integrity

    integrity

    When each individual and the organization uphold high moral and ethical principles.

  • decentralization

    decentralization

    When power is appropriately shared throughout an organization.

  • evalution

    reflection + evaluation

    When each individual and the organization are committed to continuous feedback and growth.

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More Than An Award,
It's a Roadmap for Success

The Freedom at Work Scorecard unlocks more
than just an award, it also gives you fresh insights
so you can take intentional action for continued success.

  1. Become a talent magnet attracting and retaining
    super-stars

    Discover how to cultivate an organizational mindset, leadership style, and culture design that attracts and retains the best and brightest talent, winning the talent wars. 

  2. Create the Conditions
    for Revenue Growth

    Companies that practice more freedom with accountability rather than command and control leadership have, on average 7x greater revenue growth compared to the S&P 500.

  3. Increase Motivation and Engagement

    Identify which systems and processes are keeping your employees engaged and motivated - and which ones are slowing them down!

  4. Pinpoint exactly where to put your training dollars

    Should you focus on leadership skills or cultivating a healthy workplace - or both? Take the guess-work out of where to spend your valuable resources with the detailed analysis the Freedom at Work Scorecard provides.  

  5. Make Sure You're Ready
    to Scale

    Are your systems and processes designed to scale, or are they so controlling that it's stopping your growth? Our Freedom at Work Scorecard will reveal the answer. 

  6. Build Trust and
    Positive Relationships

    Trust isn't demanded, it's earned. A company that practices freedom-centered rather than fear-based leadership naturally creates a culture of trust, camaraderie, and loyalty.

  7. Develop Leaders Your People Love Working With

    Research shows that 75% of people quit their job because of a bad leader. Do your leaders lead from a place of freedom with accountability or fear and control? Our Scorecard will let you know!

  8. Build Team Spirit With
    Hybrid or Virtual Teams

    Is your team in-person, virtual, or hybrid? We deliver the data to see how and why people are engaging (or not!) whether they're in person or virtual so you can create real team spirit.

  9. Weather Economic Storms
    With Success

    In uncertain economic times, independent research shows that organizations that operate with democratic, rather than command and control principles, are more agile and adaptable . Therefore, they are more likely to weather economically challenging times better than their competition.

  10. Advance Freedom and Democracy in Our World

    According to research by the University of Michigan, democratically-designed organizations increase civic engagement, peace, and economic prosperity in their communities, while also advancing freedom and democracy in our world. 

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What's Included?

Organizations that apply for WorldBlu certification
receive:

What's Included:
Profile page listing on
WorldBlu.com (if certified)
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Unlimited use of the WorldBlu List
certification logo (if certified)
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Inclusion in all global marketing efforts
and promotion of awardees
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Overall score check
Overall Leadership score check
Overall Individual score check
Overall Systems and Processes score check
Purpose + Vision scores check
Transparency scores check
Accountability scores check
Choice scores check
Integrity scores check
Fairness + Dignity scores check
Individual + Collective scores check
Decentralization scores check
Dialogue + Listening scores check
Reflection + Evaluation scores check
Scores customized by
department/team or region
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Scores by managerial role check
Scores by length of time at organization check
All comments and feedback from employees check
Full and complete results report,
downloadable as a PDF and CSV file
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Two-hour expert consultation on your
results including top recommendations
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Lifetime access to full results check
Apply now 
Book a call to talk with us about certification
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What HAPPENS AFTER YOU TAKE
THE FREEDOM AT WORK SCORECARD?

WORLDBLU CERTIFIED 2023 LOGO

Organizations that take the Freedom at Work Scorecard and achieve the required minimum standard score of 3.5 or higher (out of 5.0) will earn our prestigious certification status.

Once certified, your organization will also be listed on the annual WorldBlu List of Freedom-Centered Organizations 2023, receive many additional benefits and perks, and be included in our global PR and media campaign. 

Additionally, you will be a part of a global movement of organizations helping us achieve our vision of one billion people living, leading, and working in freedom. 

Explore WorldBlu Certified  Freedom-Centered Organizations
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What CEOs are saying about
WorldBlu and Freedom at Work

dreamhost
FREEDOM AT WORK TOOK OUR SPIN-OFF FROM $0 TO $175 MILLION SALE IN JUST TWO YEARS.
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Dallas Kashuba

Co-Founder, Dreamhost

wd40-Green
OUR SALES HAVE QUADRUPLED AND OUR MARKET CAP HAS INCREASED FROM $250 MILLION TO OVER $2 BILLION.
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Garry Ridge

CEO, WD-40 Company

Boost
We grew 63% in one year, adding over $1 million to our bottom-line with Freedom at Work.
Nathan Circle

Nathan Donaldson

CEO, Boost

nearsoft
WE GREW 12X WITH A 26% AVERAGE GROWTH RATE FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
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Matt Perez

COO, Nearsoft

Widen-Digital-Asset-Management
WE'VE GROWN ON AVERAGE 23% OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, LARGELY DUE TO FREEDOM AT WORK.
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Matthew Gonnering

CEO, Widen

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FAQ

Have a question about the Freedom at Work Scorecard
and certification? We have answers!

What is the process for applying for the WorldBlu List?

In order to apply for the WorldBlu List, simply click the "Apply Now" button at the top of this page.

Next, complete our short application and we will set up a call to connect with you.

After we review the details with you and make sure your organization is qualified, a select number of your employees will complete our online assessment.

It is a fast and easy process as it takes about 10 minutes per person to complete the survey, and a bit longer if they decide to write in optional comments.

Once we receive all of the needed completed surveys, we will give you your results.

If your organization scores a 3.5 or higher out of 5.0 on your overall score, you qualify as a  prestigious WorldBlu certified Freedom-Centered Organization, joining a premier global community.

Who is eligible for certification?

Any organization that has been in business at least one full year, has 10 or more employees (including full and part-time employees and/or independent contractors) is invited to take the Freedom at Work Scorecard and apply for the WorldBlu List of Freedom-Centered Organizations annual certification. 

Will getting certified help our organization attract and retain top talent?

Yes! Potential employees are increasingly looking at your organization's leadership and culture style to determine if they want to apply -- and stay! -- at your organization. 

Becoming a WorldBlu certified Freedom-Centered Organization is a substantial and credible achievement. It will boost pride and morale within your team, attract top talent that aligns with your values, and give you a proven roadmap for continued improvement and success!

How long does it take to complete the Freedom at Work Scorecard?

We know everyone is busy, so we've made our process easy. The Freedom at Work Scorecard is fast and straightforward, taking about 10 minutes per person to complete.

Does the process involve any focus groups, essays, or interviews?

We spent over a decade researching exactly what questions to ask in the Freedom at Work Scorecard to ascertain what it takes to have a Freedom-Centered Organization.

For this reason, no focus groups, essays, or  interviews are necessary to get proven and substantial results.

How many people at my organization need to take the Freedom at Work Scorecard?

Depending on the size of your organization, either 70% of your organization's part or full-time employees OR 100% of a random sample group of your employees needs to complete the Freedom at Work Scorecard in order for your results to be statistically valid.

Once you apply and we set up a call to talk with you, we will discuss which option is right based on the size of your organization.

What format are our results delivered in?

You will have lifetime access to your results online. Additionally, you can also download a complete and extensive report in a CSV or in a beautiful PDF formatted report on demand.  Many WorldBlu certified companies like these formats so they can easily compare their scores year over year.

Who developed the Freedom at Work Scorecard?

The Freedom at Work Scorecard was developed by Traci Fenton, Founder and CEO of WorldBlu, based on a decade of extensive research and consultation with leading experts in organizational democracy and organizational assessment. 

To date, it has been used by hundreds of top companies around the world, from small to Fortune 500 companies. It is available in ten languages.

What if we apply but don't get certified? Will we look bad? Who will know?

If you apply and do not qualify for certification, that's ok because we now have a benchmark for where your organization is in the process and we can help you get there!

Without this benchmark, you would have no idea where you organization is on the continuum of being freedom-centered - or not. 

Your application and scores are kept strictly confidential. No one outside of your organization or WorldBlu will know that you've applied with us unless you choose to tell them. We do, however, highly recommend that you share your scores with your employees, and we can guide you in how to do that in a constructive and meaningful way.

In terms of looking bad - what's worst, a bad score or not having the courage to assess where you are? We think it's the latter! So take the short, substantial, and meaningful Freedom at Work Scorecard and let's find our - you might have a better culture than you think!  

How much does it cost?

The cost of The Freedom at Work Scorecard depends on the total revenue of your organization. Please set up a call with us or apply now and we can go through the pricing and all that you get with it. We look forward to talking with you! 

Do you offer discounted pricing for non-profit, educational, or governmental organizations?

Yes, we offer 10% off the application fee for non-profit, educational, and governmental organizations apply for certification. 

We are using other surveys, should we stop taking them and do yours instead?

There is no need to stop doing your other assessments unless, after you speak with us, you discover that our assessment will deliver similar results to what you are already doing.

This is very unlikely, however.

The Freedom at Work Scorecard is highly unique, measuring your organizational design based on the WorldBlu 10 Principles of Organizational Democracy.

Unlike other surveys that are generic and measure outcomes only (such as engagement levels, trust, and happiness), the Freedom at Work Scorecard measures what causes these outcomes, so you can pinpoint exactly where your organization needs to change and grow.

Our assessment is fast and easy and can be a very powerful and complementary tool to any other assessments you also use. 

Which languages do you offer the Freedom at Work Scorecard in?

We offer the Freedom at Work Scorecard in 10 languages, including English, Spanish, German, Italian, French, Danish, Chinese, Haitian, Japanese, and Romanian.

If you need the Freedom at Work Scorecard in a language that we do not already offer it in, we can easily have it translated for you and set it up on our system. Additional costs may apply.

Do we need to be practicing Freedom at Work to be eligible to apply for certification?

No, you do not need to already be practicing the Freedom at Work leadership strategy per se to be eligible to apply for certification. 

We have survey fatigue, is it really worth taking?

Absolutely! It's worth taking because it will give you data that you simply cannot get from any other assessment. Plus, it's only 10 minutes a person to get a really BIG reward - possible certification as one of the most Freedom-Centered Organizations in the world! This is a powerful marketing and morale-boosting tool that is absolutely worth it. 

How is the Freedom at Work Scorecard different from other leadership and culture surveys and awards out there?

The Freedom at Work Scorecard is the only assessment in the world that measures the level of freedom and organizational democracy rather than fear and control in your workplace.

Why does this matter?

Because organizations that have more freedom with accountability and less fear are more robust, profitable, and create a workplace culture people love. 

Other leadership and culture surveys measure happiness, engagement,  trust, etc,. but our proven and robust assessment measures the actual drivers of those key critical outcomes, putting in a class above the rest. 

It is a proven assessment based on a decade of research and used by leading organizations worldwide. 

If we get certified, how long does it last?

If your organization becomes a WorldBlu certified Freedom-Centered Organization, your certification is good for one year from the date you received your results.

You will need to renew your certification annually to remain a WorldBlu certified Freedom-Centered Organization. 

We've certified hundreds of organizations around the world, and they find that doing the annual assessment invaluable as they grow and compete across a dynamic and competitive global business landscape. It's a powerful tool for attracting top talent, scalability, growth, morale, and impact for good in their communities.  

I’m sold but I need to sell it to my CEO or head of HR. What should I do?

Please share this website page with your CEO and/or head of HR, L&D, People, etc., and then have them complete our short application.

We will set up a call with them and explore together if applying for WorldBlu certification is a right fit for your organization as well as answer any questions about the Freedom at Work Scorecard that has been used by hundreds of organizations worldwide.

What is WorldBlu and what does your name mean?

Since 1997, WorldBlu has been teaching top CEOs, leaders, and organizations exactly how to successfully lead, drive change, build healthy cultures, and grow with our proven Freedom at Work leadership strategy. We offer a top community, coaching, and 150+ mindset, leadership, and culture courses to accelerate the growth of your organization.

You can learn more about Freedom at Work in our Founder + CEO, Traci Fenton, top new book entitled, Freedom at Work: The Leadership Strategy for Transforming Your Life, Your Organization, and Our World.

And what does our name mean? The color blue is universally recognized as the color of freedom. Our name, "WorldBlu," summarizes our vision in a word, which is to see a world where every individual can live, lead, and work in freedom rather than fear.

Is WorldBlu political?

No, we're not political. Founded in 1997, WorldBlu is a non-political and non-partisan top global leadership and culture training company teaching leaders worldwide how to lead with freedom over fear using the proven Freedom at Work leadership model.

We are called World "Blu" because the color blue is universally recognized as the color of freedom. We are not called "Blu" in support of any particular political party.

To date, we’ve helped leaders and organizations in 100 countries transition from the outdated command-and-control model of leadership and organizational design to a more democratic model, based on the WorldBlu 10 Principles of Organizational Democracy and the Freedom at Work model.

We’ve worked with hundreds of leaders and organizations all over the world in a diversity of industries, ranging in size to Fortune 500 companies, teaching them how to bring more freedom and organizational democracy to the world through the way they run their companies.

Our approach is universal and is proven to create a positive ripple effect, increasing the level of peace, economic prosperity, and civic engagement in the communities in which our clients work. 

We're ready to sign up, now what?

Great! Simply click any of the buttons that say, "Apply Now" on this page and complete our short application. We will then be in touch with you to set up a call about the process. We look forward to speaking with you!

Apply Now
Talk with Us About The Process
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Check out Our New Book
and YouTube Channel

Get started learning about Freedom at Work
by picking up our Founder's new book or
checking out our inspiring leadership videos
on our YouTube channel.


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Get the Book
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YouTube Channel
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Select WorldBlu Certified
Freedom-Centered Organizations

Organizations from small to Fortune 500s
around the world have all earned the prestigious WorldBlu certification.
Here are a select few.