Secondary Values
Agapic’s secondary values include Moral Imagination, Grit, Happiness, Iteration, Results, Efficiency, and ️Transparency. We also assume good intent in each other’s actions. Our secondary values are secondary to our core values. When we need additional guidance, we draw on our secondary values, while remaining true to our core values.
Moral Imagination
We are tackling truly global problems in healthcare. To succeed, we need the moral imagination to bring into harmony universal values (that apply to and respect all living beings, everywhere in the world), healthcare, technology, and business practice.
Diversity
We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better we will navigate the world we work in.
We celebrate our differences, and arrive at a sense of wholeness based on our shared values. We share a sense of oneness with all human beings, and a sense of universal responsibility.
Grit
We are gritty
We will maintain focus on Agapic’s mission and purpose for a very long time. We are hard workers. We are diligent. We finish whatever we begin. We overcome setbacks to conquer important challenges. We never give up.
We bring forth grit in our teammates
We are examples of grit ourselves. We are warm, respectful, and demanding with our teammates.
We create a culture of grit
We show up early. We strive together. We finish strong. We don’t whine. We don’t complain. We put the team first. We always protect the team.
Happiness
We understand that when we are happy, we are in a better position to perform our best and achieve success. This is in contrast with the notion that success leads to happiness.
We focus on problems head-on
Happiness does not mean we pretend problems don’t exist. Rather than avoiding or denying problems, happiness means we realize there is no known limit to our ability to solve the problems we face head-on.
Say thanks openly and frequently
Recognize the people that helped you openly and frequently. For example, use our #thanks slack channel to thank a member of the team each day.
Infuse positivity into your home office and work routine
One of the advantages of all-remote work is that we get to design our own workspace and work routine. Infuse both with positivity. Examples: Set pictures of your family or friends on your desk. Make time to go outside on a nice day.
Our work is our calling
Agapic seeks to contribute to the greater good by helping the ill, the injured, and their caregivers worldwide. To succeed, each of us contributes our personal strengths to our work in a meaningful and purposeful way.
We work for the love of our jobs
We work for the love of our jobs and for the satisfaction we receive from good work. We are all-remote and managers of one, so you will not get constant supervision or daily instructions. Instead, you will use your intrinsic optimism and motivation to determine what is the best way for you to contribute to Agapic’s mission. This includes determining what effort is required to improve your intelligence and skills, so that your contributions to Agapic grow over time.
Small successes add up to major achievements
Limit the scope of your efforts
You should concentrate on small, manageable goals. Watch the effects of your efforts, and accumulate resources, or knowledge. When you successfully achieve your goals, you can then gradually work on larger and larger goals.
Set goals of moderate difficulty
You should set goals that are not so easy you don’t have to try, but not so difficult you get discouraged and give up.
Social Investment
We are committed to frequent and positive social interaction.
Friendship
We understand that respect and friendship are not disharmonious. We mutually like and respect each other. This is important because to get the effort that we require to succeed, everyone must make a dedicated commitment to see their jobs through, and the work atmosphere must be free of conflicts. That requires the mutual respect and warmth of all team members.
Share upbeat news
We share the good things happening in our jobs, careers, and lives. For example, use our #upbeat-news slack channel not only to share upbeat news, but also to respond to colleagues’ good news actively and constructively.
Get to know each other
We are all-remote and use a lot of text-based communication. However, we encourage people to get to know each other on a personal level. For example, schedule virtual coffee chats that aren’t task oriented.
Negative feedback is 1-1
Give negative feedback in the smallest setting possible. One-on-one video calls are preferred. If you are unhappy with anything (your duties, colleagues, manager, salary, location, etc.), please let the appropriate person (CEO) know as soon as you realize it. We want to solve problems while they are small.
Negative feedback is distinct from disagreement. If there is no direct feedback involved, strive to discuss disagreement in an open channel, respectfully and transparently.
Iteration
Iteration means we do the smallest thing possible and get it out as quickly as possible.
Get feedback sooner
Take smaller steps and ship smaller, simpler features, to get feedback sooner. Instead of spending time working on the wrong feature or going in the wrong direction, ship the minimum viable product, receive fast feedback, and course correct.
Results
We do what we promised to each other, customers, users, and investors.
Measure results not hours
We care about the results you achieve: the code you shipped, the user you made happy, and the team member you helped. Hours can be helpful for planning, but you don’t have to defend how you spend your time. We trust team members to do the right thing instead of having rigid rules.
Results are More Important than Process
We focus on results over process. At Agapic, we have great people working together as an exceptional team. Our teammates thrive as managers of one. Rather than burdening our team members with process, rules, and procedures, we grant them freedom, autonomy, empowerment, and agency.
Exception: We Like Process that Helps Us Get More Done
We do adopt processes that increase our productivity (as opposed to processes that help us avoid errors). For example, we have processes around all-remote meetings that help us have well-prepared agendas, and allow us to share what we learn in a meeting with everyone on the team.
Write promises down
Agree in writing on measurable goals.
Ownership
We expect team members to complete tasks that they are assigned. Having a task means you are responsible for anticipating and solving problems. As an owner, you are responsible for overcoming challenges, not suppliers or other team members. Take initiative and proactively inform stakeholders when there is something you might not be able to solve.
Efficiency
We care about working on the right things, not doing more than needed, and not duplicating work. This enables us to achieve more progress, which makes our work more fulfilling.
Write things down
We document everything: in the handbook, in meeting notes, in issues. It is more efficient to read a document at your convenience than to have to ask and explain.
Managers of one
We want each team member to be a manager of one who doesn’t need daily check-ins to achieve their goals. To be successful at Agapic, team members need to develop their daily priorities to achieve goals. Managers of one set the tone for their work, assign items and determine what needs to get done.
Transparency
We are transparent and open about as many things as possible. By making information open to all team members, we can reduce the threshold to contribution and make collaboration easier. Use team issue trackers, projects, and repositories when possible.
Permission to play
We excluded some behaviors from our values that are obvious. We call these permission to play behaviors, such as:
- Be truthful and honest.
- Be passionate about the intense pursuit of excellence and Agapic’s success.
- Act in the best interest of our members and Agapic, rather than yourself.