THE COLLECTIVE WAY

#1 Work from the assumption that people are good, fair, and honest.
Kindness leads to more kindness.  Trust leads to more trust.  We believe that most people genuinely want to do the right thing.  Act out this belief.

#2 Keep things fun. 
The world has much bigger problems than our own. Keep perspective.  Be light-hearted and smile.

#3 Create a feeling of warmth and friendliness in every interaction.
Whenever you come into contact with a member of the 402 Arts Collective (employee, donor, program participant, partner, vendor, etc.) you are on stage.  This includes calls, visits, voice mail, letters, emails, and other communication.  Make interacting with you an extraordinary experience.

#4 Be for each other.
Support each other’s success.  Operate from the point of view that we are all in this together, and that any one of us cannot win at the expense of someone else or the organization.  Call out each other’s greatness and provide rigorous support when needed.

#5 Be a source of acknowledgment and appreciation.
Positive feedback is a tremendous energy source.  Regularly give, receive, and ask for meaningful appreciation and acknowledgment.

#6 Practice an “A+” way of life.
Regard everything you touch as a personal statement bearing your signature.  Take pride in the quality of what you produce, for excellence matters as a deeply personal value in and of itself - well beyond the probable business result of such excellence.

#7 Seek to create win/win solutions.
Learn to think from others’ perspectives.  Discover what others need and find solutions that meet their needs while still fulfilling our own.  Win/win solutions are always longer-lasting and more satisfying than win/lose solutions.

#8 Communicate to be understood.
Know your audience.  Write and speak in a way that they can understand.  Use the simplest possible explanations.

#9 Set and ask for expectations.
We judge situations not by what happens, but by how they compare to what we expected to happen.  Learn to create mutually-understood expectations in every situation.

#10 Double-check all work.
Proofread all letters, emails, spreadsheets, signs, brochures, etc. for accuracy and correctness.  Accuracy is a reflection of “A+ness”.

#11 Have a bias for structure and systems.
Look to create systems and processes which support our ability to perform with consistency. 

#12 Take time to do things right the first time.
Don’t take shortcuts.  The goal is to get things “right,” not simply to get things “done.”

#13 Maintain a solution orientation rather than a problem orientation.            
Focusing on problems drains energy.  Apply your creativity, spirit, and enthusiasm toward the development of solutions.

#14 Look ahead and anticipate.                                                                                        
Be better prepared by anticipating future needs and addressing them today.  Avoid the mistakes that come with last-minute actions.

#15 Ask questions of quality. 
Learn to ask yourself,  “What information is missing - that if I knew this, the best course of action would become self-evident?”

#16 Do what’s best for the customer.
In all situations, act in the best interests of our customers, even if it’s to our detriment.  Our reputation for integrity is one of our greatest assets.  

#17 Check the ego at the door.
Our egos and personal agendas must never take precedence over doing what’s best for the team.  Being concerned with who gets credit, who looks good, and who looks bad is counter-productive.  Making the best decision for the good of the enterprise must always be paramount.

#18 Follow up on everything.
Internal and external clients rely on us, and we rely on others.  Record a follow-up date for every action and take responsibility for its completion.

#19 Be punctual.
Be on time for all appointments, phone calls, meetings, and promises.  How you relate to time sends a message about how you relate to other commitments. Punctuality is a reflection of respect for others.

#20 Speak straight.
Speak honestly in a way that forwards what we are up to. Make clear and direct requests. When it is necessary for reaching our objectives, be willing to present ideas or take positions that may result in conflict.

#21 Honor Commitments.
Do what you say you’re going to do when you say you’re going to do it. If a commitment cannot be fulfilled, notify others early and agree upon a new commitment to be honored.

#22 Take Responsibility.
Don’t be a “victim.”  Ask for what you need and take full responsibility for your success.

#23 Steward well.
The community places trust in 402 Arts Collective, that we will use the resources we are given for the purpose of doing good.  Respect and honor the support we are given by the community to carry out the mission of 402 Arts Collective.

#24 Practice blameless problem-solving.
Treat mistakes as learning opportunities.  Focus on the following questions:  What are our the best options to solve the problem?  What have we learned that can help keep us from repeating the mistake?  How will we integrate that learning into new behaviors or practices?

#25 Make decisions that reflect a respect for long-term relationships.
Our primary goal is the long-term success of the enterprise.  We must view all of our decisions and actions in this light.

#26 Practice the human touch.
Treat people as individuals, and show them that you care.  Look for opportunities to acknowledge their uniqueness and their humanness (calls, cards, notes, gifts, etc.).

#27 Recognize the impact of appearance.
Your personal appearance makes a strong statement about the pride you take in your performance.  Dress neatly and professionally.  The appearance of our office makes a similar statement about the quality of your work.  Take responsibility to see that our office environment is clean, neat, and professional.

#28 Value organization.
Maintain a clean and orderly work area.  Use an effective task management system to keep track of outstanding issues and responsibilities.  Maintain an orderly filing system.

#29 Listen generously.
Learn to listen for the contribution in each other’s speaking versus listening from your own assessments, opinions, and judgments.  Listen with the intention to gain perspective and knowledge from others.  Become aware of your verbal and non-verbal communication while listening and interacting with others.  Check your body language.  What are you telling the person to whom you are listening by your body language and facial expressions?

#30 Be quick to ask and slow to judge.
Learn to gather the facts before making judgments.  Be curious about additional information that may yield a more complete picture.