Impact
We have an uncompromising focus on impact. We strive to succeed because we know that our work can not only improve society but transform lives.We take an evidence and research-driven approach to delivery of our services. We measure our effectiveness and alter course when needed in order to create more effective change.
Excellence
A focus on excellence means that we strive to deliver leading-edge and innovative trainings and products, engage with the utmost professionalism, and approach our communications with mindfulness and forethought. We value the ongoing research behind wellbeing, and we prioritize evidence-informed models and interventions.
Respect
Our approach to greater gender inclusivity is through education, which is impossible without respect. Therefore, we value all for who they are. We believe in treating one another well, and we recognize the humanity in all.
Compassion
We start with the assumption that adults want the gender-diverse children in their lives to thrive, and we commit to meeting those adults where they are in their own understandings of gender, gently guiding them on paths toward greater understanding. We recognize that time, mistakes, and missteps are part of growth and feel that as long as everyone at the table believes in the humanity of everyone else, then generosity and kindness are key to our vision.
Access
Gender-diverse children are everywhere; so it is important that the resources we develop are accessible to everyone. We are committed to identifying any unintentional barriers to access we might be erecting, and ensuring – among other things – that lack of representation, voice, perspective, accommodation, or analysis do not stand in the way of our offerings being seen as valuable to all.
Inclusion
Our offerings are strongest when they are developed in community, in collaboration, and with a diversity of experiences, not the least of which being the perspectives and first-hand experiences of gender-diverse youth. We continue to learn from transgender and gender-expansive communities in order to align our offerings with best practices. Our offerings are driven by and responsive to community needs and feedback.
Internal manifestation of our values
Our values are our guideposts. They are at the core of our organization. They’re how we make strategic and operational decisions. They are how we hold ourselves accountable. They’re how we hire the right people. Our values guide how we frame feedback to each other. We are committed to the authenticity of these values. We recognize that these values may not appeal to everyone. If they resonate with you, you will be a good fit for our team.
Impact
We help transform lives, families, and society. Our impact is greatest when we work together as a cohesive team to achieve our shared mission. Our team values humility, kindness, and respect. Being a great team member includes holding yourself accountable, being dependable, and taking pride in your work.
To achieve impact, we work with passion at the heart of everything we do, and find creative ways to eliminate obstacles for cultivating both societal change and organizational growth. We are passionate about delivering on commitments, creating outstanding results and, most importantly, changing the world.
Excellence
Our focus on excellence (not perfection) allows us all to bring our best selves to our work. It enables us to build a healthy and accountable team. We strive to always exceed expectations through execution and follow-through. We push ourselves to be our best, and we show up every day inspired to make a positive impact through all that we do. Our work, and how we do it, is important. It is through each person’s passion, talents, and hard work that we can fulfill our mission.
Respect
Everyone deserves and appreciates respect. Respect is a key requirement for a healthy work environment. It promotes teamwork and increases productivity. It lets employees know they are valued for their abilities and achievements, and that their role is important to everyone’s success. Respect leads us to give our best effort for the team, expect the best in others, and realize we all seek a greater goal: to create a gender inclusive world for all children and teens.
A professional, respectful work culture encourages success. It allows staff to work optimally, knowing they are valued and respected for their ideas as well as their role within the organization. A culture of mutual respect not only enhances quality of life and work experience, but also positively affects the outcome of our work.
Compassion
As a team, Gender Spectrum wants to inculcate in its staff the confidence that breeds initiative and ownership of work. To do this, we recognize that with initiative and ownership will come mistakes. We believe the goal of perfection can breed fear. The goal is to learn from the mistakes we make and grow from them, not to be afraid to make them in the first place.
Access
We acknowledge and accept that everyone comes to this work from a different place. We not only embrace all cultures, races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, ages, and abilities, but we also embrace different perspectives, and ways of thinking.
Inclusion
To help each other grow, we expect everyone on Gender Spectrum's board and staff to be open to giving and receiving feedback. This places obligations on both the giver and receiver: to the giver the obligation of providing honest feedback in ways sensitive to the structure of power and privilege within our organization and society at large, including the relative race, gender, socioeconomic status, and position within Gender Spectrum of the receiver; and to the receiver the obligation to assume best intentions and take feedback in the spirit in which it is offered.
Being a great team member will lead all of us to:
- Always treat people the way we want to be treated, and as they wish to be treated.
- Engage in respectful communication.
- Listen to what others have to say before expressing our own viewpoints, asking for clarification to understand.
- Encourage coworkers to express themselves and share their opinions and ideas.
- Cultivate an atmosphere of gratitude.
- Express appreciation more frequently than we criticize.
- Implement policies and procedures consistently so people feel that they are treated fairly and equally.
- Be respectful of others’ time, responding promptly to others’ requests, while recognizing how our requests of them may conflict with other priorities and create strain within the organization.