Principles and Practices

Principles of the College of Agricultural Sciences

Decisions are built from the ground up.
It is more important to develop cooperative solutions than to win negotiations.
Stick to your word.
Seek the positive interpretation of situations.
Try to understand the long-term consequences of a decision before making it.
It is tough to get anything done without taking risks.
One does not need to manage every detail of a system, but it is important to have a pretty good understanding of the system and why it is there.

Practices that we embrace	Key points in each practice
Manage our conversations so they are effective	One conversation at a time One person speaking at a time Someone managing the conversation Be clear about the outcomes and the process Be definitive about closure: Where are we? What happens next?
Listen respectfully and generously	Pay attention to what the person is saying Allow people to finish If you have any doubt that you understood, always verify your understanding Acknowledge-and truly consider-different perspectives Check for completion: Is the person finished? Is there anything else?
Communicate with each other completely	If we aren't aligned, say so If something doesen't work, say so
Make and keep commitments with one another	Be specific about what the commitments are Use X by Y (who will do what by when) Call if your commitment is in danger of not being fulfilled
Be on each other's side	Manage each other's reputation Be supportive and helpful Be inclusive, invite people who may have an interest or may want to contribute Look out for the interests of our group and our University
Acknowledge and appreciate each other	Look for what can be acknowledged: tell people what you appreciate, what works Practice acknowledgement frequently Be authentic
Be aligned on our strategic intent and current projects	If we are not aligned, communicate If progress slows or stops, acknowledge it Keep resources and energies focused Always be looking to stop low-impact programs and activities