The following article comes from Rho’s CEO Russ Helms who would like to share some thoughts on topics that he sees as important to Rho and our business.

Previously, I have written about Rho’s core values and how we evaluate employee performance.  These two concepts come together to create a set of behaviors I expect from every employee at Rho.

Integrity

• Do not gossip or speak ill of those who are not present.
• Catch people doing things right and tell them so.
• Be accountable for your own work; no blaming or complaining.
• Always tell the whole truth as fast as you can.
• Talk straight: express yourself without laying blame. Fulfill your commitments. Be on time to work and to meetings.

Agility and Adaptability

• Be willing to tackle any reasonable request or challenge.
• Understand that there is always something you can do better. If experiencing difficulties or conflicts, focus first on yourself.
• Continuously develop a comfort level and skill with switching between the high level and strategic to the tactical and operational.

Profitability

• Be aware of and responsible for the financial implications of everything you do.
• Work to eradicate costly mistakes and rework from your work.
• Ask yourself frequently how your role(s) can contribute to the ongoing financial success of Rho.

Quality

• Focus on quality and accuracy in all that you do.
• Plan ahead to avoid fires and crises.
• Keep track of your own work and deadlines.
• Keep your calendar up to date.
• Respond to email, voicemail, and calendar requests in a timely manner.
• Be 100% accountable to both the results of your work and its impact on others.
• Never use criticism of others to deflect feedback on how you can improve.

Innovation

• Think about better ways to do things; don’t cling to past practice.
• Listen openly and actively to those with different opinions. You may learn something new and important.
• Consider whether there is a better way of handling a situation.
• Never let “But this is how we’ve always done it” be an excuse for not embracing change.

Stability

• Get the work done on time and under budget.
• Treat both internal and external customers with respect. Repeat customers are good for business.
• Strategically plan your work and resources to allow for smooth transitions and business continuity.
• Do not say it is not your problem. If it is happening here, it’s everyone’s problem. Look for a solution.

To Think Critically and Creatively

• Be positive towards new challenges.
• Offer solutions when pointing out problems.
• Be supportive of new ideas, even if you don’t agree with them.
• When evaluating a new situation or problem, seek to understand what success will look like and what it will require.
• Be fully ready for past solutions not to work for new situations.
• Force yourself to look at things in new ways.
• Evaluate ideas on their merits, regardless of the source.

Great People

• Celebrate your own and others’ successes; share the credit.
• Assume the best from your team mates.
• Do not impugn the motives of colleagues. Assume their motives are in the best interest of Rho.
• Respect your co-workers. This means that you do not pound on the table, raise your voice, or roll your eyes.
• Even when using persuasion by reason and facts, be careful that you are not bullying or manipulating.
• Be kind and polite to everyone, all the time.
• Be coachable; accept feedback on its merits even if you don’t necessarily agree with it.
• Be careful with jokes and swear words. What is ok with you may not be so with others.

A Team Culture

• Be kind and polite to colleagues. Listen openly to those with different opinions.
• Help each other out; offer help and ask for help when needed.
• Contribute your strengths while continuing to improve on your known weaknesses.
• Work with peers and teammates to solve problems in a collaborative manner.
• Exhaust all solutions at the peer level before escalating issues.
• Advocate for something, not against something.
• Remember that you have to do it, but you don’t have to do it alone.
• Encourage people to engage with you and disagree with you.
• Be aware of positional differences and perceptions when working with others. Make an effort to put people at ease.
• Frequently express appreciation for specific actions.
• Praise in public, criticize only in private.

Not only are these behaviors critical to our success as a business, they also are a critical component helping make Rho a great place to work.