Working at Florida Poly.
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Florida Poly Formula

 

As part of our ongoing efforts to create a welcoming and inclusive community, the university has adopted the “Florida Poly Formula.”

Demonstrate an unwavering commitment to doing the right thing in every action you take and in every decision you make, especially when no one’s looking. Always tell the truth, no matter the consequences. If you make a mistake, own up to it, apologize, and make it right.

We’re all responsible for creating and building the Floria Poly image and reputation. Make sure your actions positively affect our collective reputation. Be especially mindful of how you represent yourself, your colleagues, and the University on social media. Be a proud ambassador for the University at all times.

You have the power to choose your attitude. Choose to be joyful, optimistic, and enthusiastic. Your attitude is contagious. Spread optimism and positive energy.

Be a lifelong learner. Seek out and take advantage of every opportunity to gain more knowledge, to increase your skills, and to become a greater expert. Be resourceful about learning and sharing best practices.

Everything we do is built on trust and trust is built on relationships. Take the time to get to know people on a personal basis. Demonstrate a genuine interest in others. Make smart decisions that enhance long-term relationships. Strong relationships enable us to more successfully work through difficult issues and challenging times. 

It’s not about you. Don’t let your ego or personal agenda get in the way of doing what’s best for the University. Help each other to succeed. Remember that it’s not faculty vs. staff or one location vs. another. We’re one University and we succeed or fail together.

Demonstrate a relentless solution focus, rather than pointing fingers or dwelling on problems. Identify lessons learned and use those lessons to improve ourselves and our processes so we don’t make the same mistake twice. Get smarter with every mistake. Learn from every experience. 

Take personal responsibility for making things happen. Respond to every situation by looking for how we can do it, rather than explaining why it can’t be done. Work to get to “Yes.” Be resourceful and show initiative. Don’t make excuses or wait for others to solve the problem.

Be willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish the job... plus a little bit more. Whether it’s starting early, staying late, or doing something that’s not in your job description, it’s going above and beyond that separates the ordinary from the extraordinary. 

Know and celebrate what makes each of us unique. Be curious about and welcome backgrounds and perspectives different from your own. Encourage different opinions. Everyone has something they can contribute. 

The road to success isn’t always fun and isn’t always easy. Be willing to do the mundane and ordinary things necessary to help the University and to achieve the result. Nothing is beneath any of us. Pitch in wherever necessary. 

Demonstrate a passion for excellence and take pride in the quality of everything you touch and everything you do. Go beyond the minimum requirements and have a healthy disdain for mediocrity. Always ask yourself, “Is this my best work? Am I making an impact?” 

Do what you say you’re going to do, when you say you’re going to do it. This includes being on time for all phone calls, appointments, meetings, and promises. If a commitment can’t be fulfilled, notify others early and agree on a new deliverable to be honored. 

Be organized and plan your work for maximum efficiency. Be proactive and prepare potential solutions to problems before they happen by recognizing risks, anticipating future issues, planning for contingencies, and addressing them in advance. Know the priorities and work on them first. 

Regularly reevaluate every aspect of your job to find ways to simplify processes, limit bureaucracy, and reduce overhead. Don’t be satisfied with the status quo. “Because we’ve always done it that way” is not a reason. Guard against complacency. Find ways to get things done better, faster, and more efficiently. 

Have a passion for what we do and be fully engaged. Make the most of each day by approaching every task with energy, focus, purpose, and enthusiasm. Work with a sense of urgency to get things done.

Listening is more than simply “not speaking.” Give others your undivided attention. Be present and engaged. Minimize the distractions and let go of the need to agree or disagree. Suspend your judgment and be curious to know more, rather than jumping to conclusions. Above all, listen to understand. 

Speak honestly in a way that helps to make progress. Say what you mean, and be willing to ask questions, share ideas, or raise issues that may cause conflict when it’s necessary for team success. Be courageous enough to say what needs to be said. Address issues directly with those who are involved or affected.

Healthy, vigorous debate creates better solutions. Debate concepts without making personal attacks. Check your ego at the door and push for the best solution, rather than your Once a decision is made, however, get fully aligned by putting your complete support behind it. 

Create clarity and avoid misunderstandings by discussing expectations upfront. Set expectations for others and ask when you’re not clear on what they expect of you. End all meetings with clarity about action items, responsibilities, and due dates.

With appropriate respect for confidentiality, share information freely throughout our organization. The more people know, the better we can collaborate. Learn to ask yourself, “Who else needs to know this?”

Recognizing people doing things right is more effective than pointing out when they do things wrong. Regularly extend meaningful acknowledgment and appreciation — in all directions throughout our organization.

Be a servant leader and put serving the best interest of students at the center of everything you do. Give students what they need, not simply what they ask for. Never lose sight of the reason we do what we do.

Innovation, improvement, and success don’t come from playing it safe. They come from a thoughtful and intentional willingness to try the unconventional and to ask “What if?” Try a new way. Think differently.

Work from the assumption that people are good, fair, and honest, and that the intent behind their actions is positive. Set aside your own judgments and preconceived notions. Give people the benefit of the doubt.

What got us here is not the same as what will get us to the next level. Get outside your comfort zone, rather than stubbornly hanging on to old ways of doing things. Be excited by the possibilities that change and growth bring. Be flexible.

Make informed decisions by relying on facts and data, rather than opinions. Be objective. Analyze the data and use this information to make better decisions.