Principles of Community

All communities, from the workplace to our neighborhoods, share certain common principles —
ways in which the members of the community interact with each other and with the world outside their community.

As communities become more diverse, a set of guiding principles and expectations helps to enable a diverse group of people to work together effectively and achieve goals. The ETS Office of the President adopted these principles.

"These Principles of Community are not just abstract philosophies or nice ideas for us to think about," says President Kurt Landgraf. "They describe in detail the beliefs, the values and the behaviors that are common to all world-class companies.

"They describe a community where mutual respect, commitment and the pursuit of excellence are a way of life. They describe what the ETS community must become if we are to have a competitive edge and achieve our success goals.

"ETS is a world-class company; we cannot be anything but world-class in the way in which all people are welcomed and treated," Landgraf says. "We will not settle for anything less. We cannot afford to be anything less."

Principles of Community — "Community = A Unified Body of Individuals with Common Character"

Membership

• We respect positions, levels and reporting relationships, but they are not more important than the work we face. Hierarchical privilege and entitlement have no place at ETS.
• Everyone brings a different perspective and is encouraged and expected to participate and contribute fully. All are needed to help ETS grow and prosper.
• Diversity of all varieties is an asset to our businesses.

Common Bond

• While we must align around our strategic direction, we cannot afford to continue to let the company cultural habit of "sameness" infect our thinking. Our tremendous business growth opportunities will challenge us significantly. Forming a common bond will ensure our success.
• It is OK to think "outside the box" or to just provide quiet input to the solutions. Do it out of respect for the common goal.

Commitment

• Be here for ETS. Walk toward and through the discomfort necessary for us to make ETS successful.
• Expand your "regular" behavior and experiment and stretch your thinking about your own personal and professional commitment.
• Step up and challenge and be challenged.
• Be ready to execute fully what the community has decided is appropriate.
• Our commitment is to each other and the customer. Keep asking yourself, "What would the customer want?"

Communications

• Our business is in your hands. Whatever you say or don't say, do or don't do, adds to or detracts from ETS's success.
• Your right to dissent respectfully and take an opposing view is especially important.
• Share what you know and teach others.
• Select the best way for you to resolve or reconcile a conflict over an issue with others.
• Ask questions to your heart's desire. Listen deeply to others.

Leadership

• ETS employees expect the leadership to keep our business successful and thriving. This may require individual, personal and professional change.
• We have had some great success but competitive aspects and growth prospects continue to redefine our work to include more courage and accountability from us.
• Stop competition between us and direct it outward. Take ownership for the areas you need to improve.
• The community provides the answers and solutions.

Safe Harbor

• Be respectful of others and don't confuse conflict with disrespect.
• The community should be safe for members to work through their conflict without fear of overt or subtle reprisals.
• Be willing to get feedback and give it as a gift.
• Be willing to give feedback and support to those with whom you may agree or disagree.
• Shore up a strained relationship; start a new one.

Spirituality

• This is not about religion or how you worship. It is about building the kind of community spirit that gives meaning to the work we do in the environment in which we do it.
• This is about the context of our work; it is a powerful understanding and sense of learning in all its variety.
• Community spirituality is about feeling aligned, knowing our purpose and getting work done in a caring way with each other and for our customers.
• Always, always understand and appreciate that there is life after work, a life in which you should play a part.
• It is also spirit that enables us to stay balanced in the face of enormous, rapid change. It permits us to appreciate fully that there will be many resolvable issues. There will also be obstacles we will have to surmount.