Most employment contracts aren’t really agreements.
They’re stacked in the employer’s favour.
Written by lawyers.
Shaped by precedent.
Designed to protect one side far more than the other.
It feels less like a foundation for success and more like a list of reasons you can get fired.
But I think about contracts differently.
To me, a contract isn’t about control.
It’s about commitment.
At Quarter Life Academy, I flipped the idea.
Instead of asking “what do I need to protect?”, I asked, “what do we BOTH need to succeed?”
So I use a different type of contract.
I list the values and principles I hold myself to in every working relationship.
Then I invite the other person to share theirs.
And we agree to hold each other to them.
Here’s what I commit to:
- Keep Agreements
→ If I say I’ll do something, I’ll do it. And if something changes, I’ll let you know early and make a new plan. - Communicate Clearly
→ I take responsibility for what I say AND what’s heard. If something gets lost in translation, I’ll work together to fix it. - Lean In 100%
→ I won’t disappear when things get hard. I’ll keep showing up. - Live These Principles Everywhere
→ When I grow, the people around me grow too. I bring them with me. - Give and Receive Feedback
→ I’ll share my perpsective, even when it’s uncomfortable. And I’ll invite the same from you. - Respect Myself and Others
→ I won’t carry judgement. I’ll approach you with curiosity, not assumptions. - Own My Actions
→ I take full responsibility for my choices. - Pursue Win-Win
→ I believe success isn’t zero-sum.
What happens when we work like this?
We communicate better.
We build trust.
And we better respect our working relationship.
If you lead a team, I’d recommend trying this.
Don’t just issue contracts that protect the company.
Create agreements that help people do their best work together.
Write down what you value.
Ask your team to do the same.
Build a shared agreement and then actually use it.
What value or principle would you include in your contract if you could?
