Hands N Paws upholds one single core value, that is: courage.
Courage is essential to asking for help, admitting mistakes, sharing ideas, and extending trust. It takes courage to fail and try again, give and receive feedback, and reinforce a circle of safety that encourages vulnerability, trust, connection, and collaboration. Accountability, honesty, and gratitude are all rooted in courage, as they require individuals to be authentic, vulnerable, and open with others.
When we make mistakes, we do not finger-point, blame, or shame. Instead, we choose accountability. We do not pride ourselves on being “knowers and provers”; but rather, we are all “learners and improvers”. It is okay to not have the answer to something and to say “I don’t know”. We are all here to support and help breathe compassion and kindness into the process of making mistakes and receiving well-intentioned feedback from a completely generous place (“I believe in your ability to do better in this area”). In its entirety, this is fueled by courageous leadership and courageous conversations. Leadership at Hands N Paws is also driven by courage, as good leaders are not afraid to show love and care for their team members, and treat them like family- celebrating their wins and providing support during challenging times.
Lastly, the culture of courage at Hands N Paws also includes a focus on imperfection, vulnerability, and self-compassion. The team members strive to let go of perfectionism and instead focus on healthy striving. They cultivate a culture of inclusivity, openness, awkwardness, bravery, and kindness, all of which require the courage to be authentic and vulnerable.
In summary, courage is the core value that drives the culture at Hands N Paws, and it is evident in the following ways:
- Asking for help when a task becomes overwhelming or challenging
- Admitting a mistake and taking responsibility for it
- Sharing new and creative ideas for improving processes or services
- Being open to receiving feedback and using it to make improvements
- Failing and trying again, without fear of judgment or shame
- Giving feedback in a compassionate and constructive manner
- Celebrating successes and highlights, and expressing gratitude for team members’ contributions
- Being honest about what is important and asking for what is needed
- Reinforcing a circle of safety by avoiding finger-pointing, blaming, or shaming
- Treating team members with love, care, and respect, like family
- Encouraging healthy striving rather than perfectionism (where the focus is on YOU vs others)
- Embracing vulnerability and self-compassion in the face of imperfection