Value 4 of 6

Be kind — and fun to be with

How we treat each other matters as much as what we produce.

The CodeNicely culture › Be kind — and fun to be with

What it means

No shouting. No humiliation. No politics. Being talented has never been an excuse for being unpleasant, and it never will be.

We get far more done when nobody is counting who gets the credit.

If someone makes a mistake, we don't make them feel small about it. We use it to make the person better, and the process better.

What it looks like on a Tuesday

  • Someone's stuck. You give them twenty minutes, even though you're busy. Especially then.
  • You never criticise a teammate in public. Praise in public. Correct in private.
  • The intern's question gets the same respect as the lead's.
  • When something goes well, you say who did it.
  • You go to the celebration. It matters more than you think.

What this does not mean

Kind is not soft. The kindest thing we can do is tell someone early and honestly that something isn't working — while there's still time to fix it. Letting a person fail quietly is not kindness.

Team over ego does not mean no credit. We say people's names. Loudly. We just don't compete for the microphone.

Fun is not a substitute for good work. Nobody here is graded on being cheerful.

Every value here comes with one of these. A value with no limits is just a stick to beat people with.

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