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Zac_A_Clifton for novu

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πŸ“œ Novu's Communication Manifest: Lighting the Path to our Future πŸ’‘

TL;DR

As part of our second offsite, the team at Novu created a set of principles to help drive our interactions with our communities, the companies we support, and internally with our self.

Principles

  1. Assume Good Intentions
  2. Equality of Opinions
  3. Mindfulness
  4. Support Each Other
  5. Transparency
  6. Publicize as Much as Possible
  7. Adaptability
  8. Plan Ahead
  9. Consistent Communication
  10. Make an Effort

Gordon Ramsey gif

What we were doing was not scaling

At Novu, we like to think of our mission as more than just business - it's about creating a powerful πŸ’ͺ , shared culture that promotes effective communication. We are committed to building a robust, asynchronous communication channels with talented individuals around the globe.

However, as we where going about our daily async communication we would have to constantly have to talk between each other on how we can do better.

While talking between each other was getting us closer to what we wanted, we need to have a target 🎯 to guide us.

This is where our communication manifest πŸ“œ comes in. This manifest holds our principles for communication with us and the people we support.

These principles steer our decision-making procedures, supporting our mission to adapt and thrive amidst the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Now we want to share this Manifest with you.

Image description

πŸ“œ Novu's Manifest πŸ“œ

1. 🧑 Always Assume Good Intentions

No matter the form everyone has something we can learn from.

We firmly uphold the principle of seeing the best in people and that everyone we interact with can offer us valuable insights, enhancing our collective wisdom.

2. 🟰 ALL Ideas and Opinions are Equal, Regardless of Hierarchy or Source

Every voice matters at Novu.

We promote a culture where everyone's opinions are held as equal, irrespective of their role or level within the company.

3. 🧠 Be Mindful of How You Communicate

We understand that communication is a powerful tool.

We strive to be mindful of our words, tone, and actions to ensure we respect and value each other's feelings, perspectives, and experiences.

4. πŸ›οΈ Support Each Other to Become Better Communicators

We share a collective passion for shaping a better world.

Our dedication is reflected in our relentless pursuit to enhance our communication prowess and cultivate a culture rooted in learning and growth.

5. πŸͺŸ Be Transparent and Explicit with Expectations

Transparency is key to our operations.

We express our expectations clearly and explicitly, making sure that everyone has a clear understanding of their roles, responsibilities, and the goals we are striving to achieve together.

6. πŸ’¬ Publicize Decisions and Consider All Affected Individuals

We are committed to open communication.

We publicize our decisions and make sure that all affected individuals are considered and informed before finalizing any major decisions.

7. πŸŒͺ️ Remain Adaptable to Others' Priorities and Needs

We understand that in a fast-paced environment, adaptability is critical.

We articulate our priorities and needs while staying flexible to accommodate the changing needs and priorities of our colleagues, customers, and community.

8. πŸ“ Assume Unavailability and Plan Accordingly

We operate in a global environment, and as such, unavailability is a given.

We plan and execute our tasks with this in mind to ensure that our operations run smoothly and efficiently, regardless of time zones and personal schedules.

9. πŸ“‘ Communicate All Necessary Details for Planned Interactions

We value clarity and precision in our interactions.

We ensure that all necessary details for planned interactions are communicated effectively, making our meetings productive and valuable for everyone involved.

10. πŸ™ Make an Effort to Promptly Respond to Others

We are committed to going above and beyond.

We make an effort to respond quickly to others, acknowledging their contributions, and keeping our collaborative efforts moving forward as we understand that prompt responses are crucial for effective collaboration.

The way forward

These ten principles are the bedrock of our operations at Novu and the people we support.

They guide us in our quest for excellence, and they serve as a beacon to light our path as we continue to innovate and grow.

Walking together

Novu

Novu a leading open-source notification infrastructure for developers. Check out how we embody these principles and more on our public handbook at: https://handbook.novu.co/

Thank you for reading!

Top comments (6)

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matijasos profile image
Matija Sosic

Very cool, thanks for sharing! Responding promptly is my favourite.

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cliftonz profile image
Zac_A_Clifton

No problem! I agree it makes people feel like they are heard.

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cliftonz profile image
Zac_A_Clifton

Do you feel like transparency is valuable for a company?

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cliftonz profile image
Zac_A_Clifton

Does your company have clear communication values?

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zcallen profile image
Zach Allen • Edited

I feel the context and situation is important for assuming positive intent and I feel "don't assume negative intent" is generally much more practical and realistic even if it doesn't sound as positive on paper.

That doesn't mean it can't be effective. Sometimes people do things or participate with no real intent or purpose.

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cliftonz profile image
Zac_A_Clifton

That is very true, I think the key things is to not let your emotions get in the way.

It very much depends on the situation.