Promotes Trust

Effective Communication

• Gives appropriate, consistent and accurate information about critical business decisions and strategies
• Uses timely, efficient and effective communication methods
• Fosters communication exchange through listening, sharing ideas and cooperative problem-solving
• Promotes healthy disagreement, creates an environment where people can develop healthy relationships
• Uses direct communication with the appropriate person(s)
• Asks questions, seeks clarification, checks for understanding
• Respects individual’s first language
• Tells the truth, is honest, keeps confidences, does not listen to or promote gossip
• Provides regular opportunities to meet, develops high level agendas and respects each other’s time

Accountability

• Sets standards and holds each other to those standards regardless of position, region, office or center
• Gives effective support to achieve standards
• Follows through on promises and commitments, is dependable and timely
• Leads by example, is available, is open to feedback
• Admits and learns from mistakes, follows up to correct
• Holds ourselves and each other accountable, gives support
• Takes responsibility for own attitudes and actions, initiates solutions
• Takes personal responsibility for solving problems and challenges, for self-growth
• Sets realistic goals and follows through

Participatory Decision-making

• Makes all decisions keeping in mind the mission statement, philosophy and values of our agency
• Strives for the highest level of appropriate participation, promotes ownership, empowerment
• Values all ideas, tries new ideas
• Gathers all pertinent information, takes into account diverse perspectives
• Supports and implements the decisions we make together
• Makes criteria for decision-making clear and understood

Encourages People's Best Work

• Sets clear expectations through job descriptions, appraisals and goal setting
• Provides constructive two-way performance feedback
• Strives to match agency mission, individual and group strengths and passion with meaningful work
• Expects that people are doing their best, focuses on strengths
• Acknowledges everyone’s importance to the success of achieving our mission
• Cares for others, shows kindness, compassion and support
• Seeks to understand others’ points of view
• Fosters cooperative team environment, promotes friendly, open work environment
• Encourages humor, fun, playfulness and celebration
• Creates a community of respect that values each person’s uniqueness and supports their strengths
• Strives to understand each other in the context of family, culture and individuality

Invests in People

• Develops others through coaching, training, performance feedback and professional growth plans
• Gives people the time, tools, resources and work environment needed to succeed in their job
• Makes hiring and promotional decisions based on skills, abilities and experience needed to do the job
• Recognizes and rewards best work
• Develops leadership skills
• Supports work-life balance
• Provides organization and infrastructure to support people’s best work
• Provides equitable, competitive salaries and benefits
• Works to promote from within through staff development and mentoring programs
• Makes authentic connections to the communities we serve

Fosters Innovation

• Values diverse and new ideas
• Encourages the exchange of ideas within the agency, among regions, sites and offices
• Celebrates diversity of style and thought, promotes understanding and respect for individual differences
• Strives to create the time needed to explore possibilities
• Recognizes the uniqueness of each work site, promotes individuality within agency standards
• Seeks to give the freedom to innovate and take risks within agency mission and philosophy
• Analyzes failures, challenges and successes
• Seeks the most current knowledge in our field and works to implement as appropriate
• Embraces change
• Fosters continual learning and growing