Rules of Engagement Keeps Workplace Civil and Productive

To bake a great company culture, employees need to know what is expected of them.  SuccessFactors, a very successful business execution software company, requires their employees, including the CEO, to sign and live by a list of Rules of Engagement.  Lars Dalgaard, founder and CEO, even tells employees to call him out if he breaks one of the rules.  This approach has made SuccessFactors a fun, safe and highly successful place to work.

Rules of Engagement by SuccessFactors

#1 I will be passionate—about SuccessFactors’ mission, about my work. I will love what we do for companies and employees everywhere.

#2 I will demonstrate respect for the individual; I will be nice and listen to others, and respect myself. I will act with integrity and professionalism.

#3 I will do what it takes to get the job done, no matter what it takes, but within legal and ethical boundaries.

#4 I know that this is a company, not a charity. I will not waste money—I will question every cost.

#5 I will present an exhaustive list of solutions to problems—and suggest actionable recommendations.

#6 I will help my colleagues and recognize the team when we win. I will never leave them behind when we lose.

#7 I will constantly improve Kaizen! I will approach every day as an opportunity to do a better job, admitting to and learning from my mistakes.

#8 I will selflessly pursue customer success.

#9 I will support the culture of meritocracy and pay for performance.

#10 I will focus on results and winning—scoring points, not just gaining yardage.

#11 I will be transparent. I will communicate clearly and be brutally honest, even when it’s difficult, because I trust my colleagues.

#12 I will always be in sales and drive customer satisfaction.

#13 I will have fun at work and approach my work with enthusiasm.

#14 I will be a good person to work with—I will not be an asshole.

#15 I will not BCC (blind copy) anyone and never talk negatively and destructively behind someone’s back (character assassination); rather, I will confront them with the issue I am facing or wanted to comment
to others about, to allow us a trusting and hyper-productive collaborative environment.

#16 I recognize that I am personally a steward of this “Olympic flame,” and I know that if I lose my edge, it will trigger a wildfire, and we together have both the power to keep this open honest culture, or break it.
DON’T DO IT. BE GOOD.

#17 I agree to live these values. If my colleagues fail to live up to any of these rules, I will speak up and will help them correct; in turn, I will be open to constructive criticism from my colleagues should I fail to live by these
values. I understand that my performance will be judged in part by how well I demonstrate these values in
my daily work.

I agree to live these values. If my colleagues fail to live up to any of these rules, I will speak up and will help them correct; in turn, I will be open to constructive criticism from my colleagues should I fail to live by these values. I understand that my performance will be judged in part by how well I demonstrate these values in my daily work.