1. Act in good faith.
Red flag to watch out for here: People clearly not saying what they mean, lots of indirect language and jargon used without clarification, accusations of sabotage, theft, etc. Secret meetings.
2. Keep it in perspective.
Red flag to watch out for: any time an important decision is blocked until the wording of the decision can be “worked out”.
3. Check your ego at the door.
Red flag to watch out for: interpersonal drama. People opposing other peoples’ proposals based on individual dislike of each other. People couching their opinions in terms of how they feel on a personal level and making decisions, processes, etc, all about their individual feelings.
4. Don’t be a dick.
Red flag to watch out for: someone blocking a decision without being willing to explain their reason, or for reasons that seem thin and spurious.
5. Pick your battles.
Red flag to watch out for: Ideological inflexibility, decisions being made and actions being taken based on dogma rather than on ethics, discussion, and practicality.
6. Do your homework.
Red flag to watch out for: “Well, I don’t really feel like I understand the issue/my responsibility, but…”; being pressured to vote or state an opinion without receiving an adequate explanation or chance to self-educate on the issue at hand.
7. Set boundaries and avoid black holes.
Red flag to watch out for: Agendas that are over ten items long, meetings that consistently start ten, fifteen, twenty minutes late.
8. Have fun.
Red flag to watch out for: Lack of a sense of camaraderie. Soul-crushing joylessness. Uncomfortable metal chairs.
(via ourcatastrophe)
