Non-Negotiables
Studio culture requirements and core principles that must be followed
Be accountable. This means:
Show up to important meetings on time. If necessary, give yourself extra travel time. It's okay to be late now and then, but it's not hard to be on time.
And, on that note, if you're not going to be on time, let someone know. This includes being late (10 min+) in the morning each day.
Clean up after yourself. Aside from the great dish karma, you should keep things neat. That means cleaning out the French press AT LEAST weekly.
Do your work. Do what you say you're going to do.
Do it to the best of your ability.
Answering emails (or handing them off to someone else) within 24 hours. Even if that answer is "I don't know" or "I'll have to get back to you."
Simultaneously, create and maintain boundaries between work, clients, and our own lives. Don't answer emails on weekends. Don't prioritize client "emergencies" that we don't view as "emergencies." Et cetera.
Build trust. Accountability does this.
Be self-reliant. Conversely, avoid micromanagement. (This is more on me, but I think open communication can help with the latter.)
Communication & Participation
Everyone should participate.
Be present. When we're meeting about something, be present on that topic and don't be doing other stuff at the same time. It makes everything take longer.
Have open communication.
- Create spaces for 1:1 conversation.
- Ask open ended questions.
- Check in with each other often.
- Handle conflict directly. No passive aggression.
- It's the responsibility of the communicator to be sure they're understood.
- Get a majority onboard.
Be kind to each other.
Respect each other.
This also means each other's time. Time is a limited resource. Value the time of others. Be on time (preferably a few minutes early), communicate when you are more than 10 minutes late, and never inconvenience the other person with your tardiness.
Say thank you.
Be honest.
Listen. Really listen.
Make sure everyone is heard.
Ask for help when you need it. We can look out for each other, but we're not mind readers. Expect each other to ask when they need help.
Work & Collaboration
Show your work. Be willing to discuss it.
Be open minded, tolerant. Open to change.
That being said, be willing to throw everything away. Be willing to abandon projects that don't make sense, and rethink ones that seemingly do. Be flexible.
Help each other. We're all in this together. A rising tide raises all boats. "Support success."
No ego.
Give credit where credit is due.
Understand that when you represent Builtwell, you're representing the other people here. Act and speak accordingly. Be a good steward.
Practice saying "we."
Confidentiality. What personal bullshit goes down in the studio, stays in the studio. We can choose to collectively talk about it in an act of transparency, but avoid gossip and general independent bullshitting.
Values & Principles
Empathize with others.
Recognize the amount of privilege that comes with doing the work that we do.
When someone is outnumbered, understand the emotion of that position and offer compromises that accommodate that. "Win-win."
Develop people, not business.
Celebrate wins.
Embrace risk. Don't punish it. Make mistakes okay.
Stand for something. Be committed to our beliefs and what we're trying to do.
Prioritize differing opinions, perspectives, and outliers. Actively strive for diversity and inclusivity.
No hate, bigotry, sexism, racism, and so on.
No threats of self harm, unbanked accusations, all or nothing dramatics, etc.
Leave the world better than we found it.
Core Principles
Be open
Listen to each other
Everyone should land on the same page
Don't jump to conclusions
Promote a flexible workspace
No work is precious
Make good work or good money