Services
New Leadership Development & Organizational Design
Tired of business theater? We replace busywork with work that creates real value.
Grounded in systems thinking. We work with leaders, teams, and organizations to tackle the real problems — not the symptoms. We build better collaboration, stronger culture, and structures that support strategy and innovation.
15 minutes. 100% obligation-free.
OUR APPROACH
How We Work
System, not symptom: Context shapes behavior — so we work on structures. And we don't stop there — people bring their own patterns too. Real change needs both levels.
Patterns, not coincidences: If the same problem keeps coming back, it has a structural cause. We find it and address it at the root, instead of looking for someone to blame.
Observe before intervening: Before we change anything, we understand what's actually driving the situation. We diagnose before we prescribe, every time.
Co-creation, not consulting: We build solutions with your team, not for them. That's the only way change actually holds once we're no longer in the room.
Tools that create clarity: We work with conceptual tools that make complexity visible and navigable, not methods that paper over it with a temporary fix.
Built to make us redundant: The goal is that you don't need us anymore. We build your capacity and ownership, not your dependency on us.
SERVICES
Where the Real Work Happens
We help you design flexible organizational structures, strengthen leadership and collaboration, and develop a culture that supports your strategy – with the goal of building a learning, market-oriented organization that can handle today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.
Organizational & Team Development
We help organizations and teams redesign how they work together – from strategy and structure to daily collaboration.
New Leadership Development for Organizations
We develop leaders who understand their role in the system – and create the conditions for their teams to do their best work.
Organizational Culture Development
Culture isn’t a mood – it’s the operating system of your organization. We make visible what drives it, and shift what needs to change.
Coaching & Sparring
For leaders and decision-makers who want to think more clearly, act more deliberately, and get honest feedback without filters.
Workshop Design & Facilitation
We design and facilitate sessions built for your specific problem — structured to produce real outcomes, not just alignment.
Workshop Facilitation Training
We train teams and facilitators in proven methods — so your organization can run better sessions without always depending on us.
Every engagement starts with a conversation. No pitch, no pressure.
15 minutes. 100% obligation-free.
Martin Backes brings clarity to complex teamwork and leadership
I brought Martin Backes on board for the UX Growth Academy (UXGA) to create two new learning modules: communication complexity in teams and overcoming silo thinking. Martin brings rare expertise, structural clarity, and real innovative thinking. He has a sharp sense for team dynamics and knows how to make complex topics immediately usable. His work strengthens lasting collaboration. Our course "Designing Influence" gained real focus and impact through his contributions. Participants told us they felt more confident communicating and stronger in their teamwork. I recommend Martin to anyone who wants to genuinely rethink teamwork, communication, and leadership—not just tweak it. His approach to clarity and collaboration creates effects that last well beyond the course itself.
From complex AI challenges to promising pilot projects
I recently collaborated with Martin Backes on an AI Design Sprint® for a prominent German energy service provider. Martin is very open and refreshingly uncomplicated, which makes him incredibly easy to work with. His expertise in innovation facilitation and his structured, calm approach were instrumental in helping the teams navigate complex AI challenges, ultimately leading to the definition of promising pilot projects. His ability to create momentum, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and keep diverse groups aligned stood out throughout the session. I highly recommend Martin to any organization looking to drive innovation, improve collaboration, and bring clarity to complex topics — thanks to his tech-savvy expertise, proactive mindset, and sharp toolset.
This is what lasting organizational change feels like
Working with Martin Backes was a turning point for our organization. He helped us build real structures for leadership and collaboration, not just better meetings. Our team became more autonomous, decision-making got faster, and the dynamic shifted in ways that have lasted. If you want lasting organizational change, not a workshop high that fades after two weeks, Martin is the right partner.
From strategic fog to German Design Award
Martin helped us align our leadership team around our vision of becoming a worldwide-leading audio product. What would have taken months of back-and-forth took days. Over the following eighteen months, he stayed with us as a strategic partner, coach, and consultant, helping us navigate the execution and keep the team aligned. He brought the right structure to get a complex stakeholder group moving, and the results spoke for themselves. We executed, shipped, and won the German Design Award in the process.
Our go-to coach and trainer for years
Martin has a talent for explaining complex concepts in a clear and simple way, whether in UX, product strategy, design thinking, agile methods, or usability. He is skilled at tailoring programs to meet the unique needs of his participants and clients, providing actionable and practical takeaways for immediate application. Martin has been one of our go-to trainers and coaches for many years, and for good reason. I highly recommend him for any corporate training or facilitation role. He is an exceptional coach and trainer, and a valuable asset to any organization.
Martin is an exceptional mentor, teacher, and workshop facilitator
Martin is an exceptional Design mentor, teacher, and workshop facilitator. He has a remarkable talent for engaging and motivating his students while equipping them with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. As a creative and dynamic instructor, Martin is constantly seeking new ways to make learning fun and engaging. His passion for teaching and his commitment to helping his students reach their goals is unparalleled. He is a great asset to StartSteps, and I highly recommend him.
CONTACT
Get in Touch
Ready to start? Book a free 30-minute call. We’ll look at where you are, what’s getting in the way, and whether we’re the right fit.