For many people, performance management is simply the form that needs to be completed by Wednesday. It takes time, it’s a source of frustration, and the best moment is when it’s finally done. We’ve spent years building software for this.

From today, we’re doing things differently.

Treams is launching Manager OS: a system built for the manager, not for the cycle. To improve performance when it matters, not months later during a review.

That change is significant enough to warrant a new chapter. And this chapter calls for a new Treams.

What performance management used to be

For years, performance management began with the calendar. When do we hold the appraisals? When must the forms be submitted? When do we carry out the appraisals? And when do we make decisions on remuneration? Software helped HR to organise that cycle effectively. On time, with a clear record, and as agreed. But performance doesn’t wait for the next appraisal.

Someone might hit a snag today. Or deliver outstanding work this week. They might need feedback right now. Or display behaviour that, as a manager, you want to reinforce immediately. And yet managers are often only expected to take formal action on this weeks or months later. We call this gap between when performance takes place and when you are expected to manage it ‘Performance Lag’. And that is precisely what we want to change. Performance management should not merely record what has happened after the event. It should help managers to improve performance whilst they still have the opportunity to make a difference.

That is why we are rebuilding Treams around the manager.

In recent years, with all the developments surrounding AI, this need has only become even greater.

The Manager OS

The Manager OS helps managers lead their teams whilst the work is being done. It enables them to spot sooner when someone is struggling, provide feedback in good time, avoid putting off difficult conversations, and work towards improved performance in a targeted way every week.

HR retains what it needs. Reviews are carried out. Decisions are documented. Compliance is managed. But that is no longer what the system is all about.

The aim is better performance.

The administrative side takes care of itself. And things are changing for HR too. Fewer managers chasing after forms. More focus on ensuring the right people become managers and that they learn to manage effectively. That they have the confidence to give feedback, can handle difficult conversations and know when someone needs attention.

After all, it is the manager who can make a difference in a team every day. HR’s role is to help managers do that as effectively as possible.

Raise the bar. Every week.

The Manager OS also includes a new Treams. A new logo, new colours, new typography and a new visual identity. But more importantly: a new promise.

Raise the bar. Every week.

Five words that sum up what we expect from good performance management.

Raise the bar. Set higher standards for what you can achieve together. Help people to reach their full potential and build a team that keeps getting better. That doesn’t always mean working harder or doing more. Good leadership is knowing what someone needs at any given moment: sometimes a nudge, sometimes a difficult conversation, sometimes trust, and sometimes simply space.

But you should also raise the bar for performance management itself. Completing a cycle is not an outcome. Filling in a form does not make for a better team. The question is: does it actually benefit your staff, your managers and your teams? For years, the bar for performance management was set at completing a cycle. We believe it should be set at having a better team.

Every week. You can’t just work on this once a year. Performance is built every day. So give managers a regular routine that allows them to see what’s going on, have a chat when necessary, and keep building their team. That’s our promise: performance management not just for the sake of ticking a box, but to get the very best out of your people and your team.

Raise the bar. Every week.

The new Treams.

Our new direction is also reflected in Treams’ visual identity.

The logo. At its heart is the ‘T’ of Treams, shaped like an upward spiral. It keeps moving and rises a little higher with every turn. Just like our promise: not in one big leap, but raising the bar a little higher week after week. The wordmark is deliberately in lower case. Down-to-earth, approachable and without any fuss. Just like Treams.

The colours. The basic design is familiar, but the colours have become fresher and more vibrant. More energy, without Treams suddenly becoming unrecognisable.

The fonts. We use two of them, and that’s no coincidence. A bold, sans-serif font represents ‘the bar’: ambitious, clear and a touch daring. Alongside this, we use a friendlier font for ‘every week’: for the conversations, the collaboration and getting a little better every week. Together, they capture the essence of Treams: ambitious yet human, with a touch of cheekiness.

"I have tremendous faith in where we’re heading, but perhaps even more so in the people we’ll be doing it with. Our team is raising the bar higher than ever and never ceases to amaze me with what it achieves together. You can feel that energy in the new Treams. We have a grand ambition: to help managers build better teams. And we’re all fully committed to that."

Iris Zonneveldt, CEO and founder of Treams

What remains the same

A new Treams doesn’t mean everything is changing. The things you value about us will remain the same.

• The product you’re using today. The core remains the same. Over the coming period, we’ll be adding new features that will bring Manager OS increasingly to life.
• The team. Lizanne, Aafke, Iris and Luus are as committed as ever and are here to support you every day.
• Direct lines of communication. You can simply give us a call. We’ll stay close to you and do everything we can to ensure performance management works effectively within your organisation.
• Privacy and security. There will be no changes to your login details, integrations or the agreements we’ve made together.

What you’ll notice

From today, you’ll also be seeing the new Treams.

• From today: a new website. A new narrative, a new look and stories from customers and managers who are already using Treams.

• From 30 September: a new look for Treams. The product will feature the same new design, with a few improvements here and there to make it easier to use.
• On 6 October: the full story. During our webinar, we’ll explain why we’re building the Manager OS, what’s going to change and what that means for managers and HR.

I believe there is a brighter future for managers. Not because their work is getting any easier, but because they no longer have to go it alone with a form that doesn’t require any input from them until December. We’re building a system that supports them when it really matters – to see what’s going on, have the necessary conversations and build a better team every week.

That’s what we’re committed to. And from now on, you can hold us to that.

Raise the bar. Every week.

Iris Zonneveldt, CEO and founder of Treams

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