Our Philosophy

At The Washington Firm, we believe it’s essential to create and communicate clear expectations for every member of the organization, from entry level to the executive suite, then hold people accountable for the results they deliver. The same is true for your policies and procedures: if they’re not providing optimal support to the business, they’re not getting the job done. Human resources (HR) should provide structure–not bureaucracy for its own sake. Interventions should aim to resolve underlying issues, not just minimize risk. HR policies should be clear, accessible, and tailored to the organization's business and culture. Underperforming employees should be coached where possible or transitioned where they can be more successful–for their own sake as well as that of your business and its customers. Training can be provided to help managers implement organizational policies and strategies and support employee performance.

Customized engagements built on experience and understanding

As a lean, high-level team of HR experts based in Seattle and New York City, The Washington Firm draws on extensive real-world HR experience to customize each engagement to the needs of the individual client. Firsthand knowledge of specific industries such as technology, e-commerce, professional services, healthcare, financial services, city government, and non-profit environments helps us appreciate the context in which your organization operates. By working to understand your business as well as your work environment, we can help you implement policies, processes, training, and interventions that align fully with your business goals.

Working with your HR department

We see your HR department as a crucial ally and collaborator in our efforts, not something to be bypassed or undermined. When your need for organizational and talent assessments, training and teambuilding, management development, investigations, and other processes exceed your available capacity, we can provide complementary resources to help get the job done. For HR departments seeking to develop new areas of expertise, our engagements follow a “train the trainer” approach to build self-sufficiency and establish a framework for continued organizational improvement long after our project has ended.

Solving problems before they arise

Any fire department will tell you that the best way to deal with a fire is to keep it from starting. Conflicts and complaints call for immediate attention, but their resolution is only the first step. The next question has to be: why did this happen? Even in cases where no legal risk is identified, we see each intervention as an opportunity to diagnose underlying organizational or management issues that need to be addressed to prevent similar incidents–or more serious ones–in the future. Meanwhile, our talent assessment, executive and management coaching, succession planning, and related services can help you foster a culture of outstanding professional management that keeps every member of your organization productive, supported, and focused on business results.