Work Excellence helps organizations streamline their businesses by aligning priorities, breaking down silos, and using technology, coaching, and consulting to improve collaboration and results. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Work Excellence co-founder and Managing Director Steve Gran to gain a deeper understanding of the company.
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Gran said:
“My background is in supply chain, where I was trained in traditional methods like Lean and Six Sigma. Brian, my co-founder, started out as a CPA and later became an executive at a company I was consulting for. That’s where we first met and began working together. While collaborating on solving complex organizational challenges we quickly realized traditional methods only got us part of the way.”
“We started experimenting, asking, “What information do people actually need to be aligned and effective?” From these experiments came the foundation of what is now the Work Excellence Method. We built it to answer one core question: how do we get everyone on the same page? Over time, we identified four core elements of work, held together by a consistent check and adjust routine, that are essential for teams to collaborate, adapt, and drive meaningful change. That framework became our company’s foundation and it’s what we still use today to create alignment and results across industries.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Gran reflected:
“One moment that stands out is when we were working with a furniture manufacturer whose employees had purchased the company from its previous owner. They had a five-year exit plan, and they brought us in to help. By leveraging the Work Excellence Method, they hit their targets and successfully sold the company. After the sale, twenty-five of their executives became millionaires. Even though the financial targets were great, it was really rewarding to watch a team truly unite, execute their vision, and grow in abundance together. Seeing that kind of transformation never gets old.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Gran explained:
“At the heart of our offering is the Work Excellence Method, a proven framework made up of four core elements and a supporting Work Routine. This consists of Work Direction – defining the value of the work, Work System – creating the value of the work, Work Measurement – ensuring the value of the work, Work Improvement – improving the value of the work, and Work Routine – sustaining the value over time. It helps organizations align purpose, measure progress, build systems, and continuously improve.”
“To bring this method to life, we developed Work Excellence Technology, a cloud-based platform that houses all these elements in a highly visual, intuitive format. Think of it as knowledge management that drives action.”
“Alongside our platform, we offer coaching and workshops to support deployment. Whether it’s a strategic session or a full rollout, we help teams integrate the method into their day-to-day work.”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector recently? Gran acknowledged:
“The biggest challenge we face is time. More specifically, fighting for people’s time and attention when everyone has a lot going on. Leaders often feel like they can’t spare the time to step back and work on the work.”
“We overcome this by meeting people where they are. We take time to understand their goals, answer their questions, and provide accessible resources. We really focus on collaboration, working to build trust, clarity, and eventually, momentum.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since its launch? Gran noted:
“Our technology started as a set of structured Excel files. That allowed us to refine the method before scaling it digitally. From there, we’ve been continuously updating it based on user feedback and emerging needs. We’ve added many new features like dashboards and percent completion tracking for each of the pages. Currently, we’re exploring AI integrations and adding meeting management to the software.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Gran cited:
“Launching our technology platform was a game-changer. It took us from spreadsheets to a scalable, interactive system. Publishing our book was another major milestone. And the growth of our team in 2023 was a significant step in our journey to scale and serve more organizations.”
Customer Success Stories
Can you share any specific customer success stories? Gran highlighted:
“One story that really stands out is from a manufacturing client who was struggling with reactive inventory management. They were constantly firefighting and experiencing a lot of instability in their supply chain. We partnered with them to iterate a forecasting solution that would give them visibility and allow them to take a more proactive approach.”
“The results were pretty incredible. They were able to cut their weeks of supply in half, which freed up cash flow. It also allowed them to avoid a $12 million investment in a second warehouse they thought they’d need. As their visibility improved, so did their decision-making. Strategic conversations replaced reactionary ones, and they began to forecast more effectively, which in turn strengthened their customer relationships.”
“What I loved most about this project was that by the end, their team was running the system independently. They had the tools, the confidence, and the structure to keep evolving without relying on outside help. That kind of capability building is what Work Excellence is all about.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Gran affirmed:
“Our method integrates all the essential elements of work presented in a visual format, so it’s easy to access and understand the information. What sets us apart is our combination of method, software, and coaching. We don’t just tell you what to do; we guide you through how to do it, with experts who’ve been there. Structured conversations, standardized pages, and a strong focus on alignment make us different.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Gran emphasized:
“We’re focused on expanding the reach of our method and making it more accessible to leaders and teams in our core markets. That means scaling our coaching network, evolving our technology, and sharing more of what we’ve learned.”
“At the end of the day, we want more companies to get on the same page, not just for efficiency, but for community impact. When organizations align, they create value that extends into the places they live and work.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you’d like to discuss? Gran concluded:
“What we’ve seen, again and again, is that when you focus on these core elements of work, you end up developing better leaders. It’s a natural byproduct of our method. People gain visibility into how work flows, how decisions are made, and how they contribute. That clarity builds confidence and capability.”
“So yes, we help organizations perform better. But just as importantly, we help them grow stronger leaders who pass that knowledge on.”
