I Don’t Work For You

A colleague once said to Meg De Keukelaere: “I don’t work for you.”
It stopped her in her tracks. Not only was it jarring, it also sparked reflection on rules of engagement, belonging, and the role of core values in shaping culture.

Meg’s insight was sharp: when we step outside agreed values, trust fractures. Psychological harm creeps in. Respect erodes. Culture begins to crack. Core values aren’t slogans; they are the shared language that creates trust, accountability, and collaboration. Culture is intentional, it is built daily in words, actions, and standards.

That sparked my own question:
“So, what does one say and do when someone says ‘I don’t work for you’? Obviously they felt you crossed their line. And obviously you felt your line had been crossed by their comment. What happens next?”

Meg suggested pausing, leaning into radical candor, and inviting dialogue. That has merit, but dialogue alone can still leave people guessing what to do next.

Here’s how SpatzAI would intervene:

1. Agreement First
   Both team members have already agreed (through the Spatz Charter) to use the process.
2. Verbal Caution
   The offended person issues a simple caution:
   “I feel you’ve crossed a line with that comment.”
   This gives the other person a chance to acknowledge and resolve it immediately.
3. If Unresolved → Spatz.Chat
   The matter is logged and moves through the formal process of 1. Caution → 2. Objection → 3. Stop.
4. The Stop Escalates to STAIR Review
   The Spatz Team & AI Review (STAIR) platform helps the team, with AI support, reach a fair resolution.

Instead of improvising, there’s a shared playbook. The next step is clear, fair, and already agreed upon.