Core Values: Start with grace
Value Statement
Start with Grace: We recognize human limitations—our own and others'—and create space for authentic connection, vulnerability, and mutual support.
Value Statement with Description
Start with Grace: We recognize human limitations—our own and others'—and create space for authentic connection, vulnerability, and mutual support. Grace is more than understanding or forgiveness; it's a posture that acknowledges our shared humanity. We don't pretend to be stronger than we are, carry burdens alone, or hide our needs for connection and support. By releasing the myth of self-sufficiency, we build genuine communities where people can show up as their full selves, ask for help when needed, and grow together through honest relationship. This approach creates sustainable impact through authentic collaboration rather than individual heroics.
Value Paper
Start with Grace
Value Statement
We recognize human limitations—our own and others'—and create space for authentic connection, vulnerability, and mutual support.
Definition
At Good Work, starting with grace means approaching ourselves and others with an understanding of our shared humanity—complete with strengths, weaknesses, and everything in between. It's a fundamental recognition that none of us is self-sufficient, and we weren't meant to be.
Grace is often understood simply as forgiveness or mercy—extending understanding when someone falls short. While this is part of it, our concept of grace goes further. It's a proactive posture that acknowledges human limitations from the beginning and creates environments where people can be authentic about their needs and vulnerabilities.
Starting with grace means:
Naming and accepting our limitations and weaknesses
Dropping the pretense of having it all together
Recognizing we don't have to carry everything alone
Asking for help when we need it
Extending the same grace to others that we need ourselves
Releasing the myth of self-sufficiency
This value complements our commitment to "Excellence with Integrity." While we pursue quality work we're proud to put our name on, we do so with a realistic understanding of human capacity. Excellence without grace creates burnout; grace without excellence creates mediocrity. Together, they create sustainable impact.
In a world that often celebrates individual strength and self-sufficiency, starting with grace offers a refreshing alternative. It acknowledges that our vulnerability isn't a weakness to hide but a reality to embrace. When we start with grace, we build organizations and communities where people can bring their whole selves to the work, support each other through challenges, and create resilient networks of mutual care.
Why It Matters
In the nonprofit sector, burnout is epidemic. Leaders and staff often carry immense responsibility for addressing complex social problems with limited resources. The pressure to appear competent, strong, and unfailingly positive can create cultures where:
People hide their struggles until they reach a breaking point
Leaders feel isolated and unable to share their challenges
Staff push themselves beyond sustainable limits
Mental health issues go unaddressed
Knowledge is lost as burned-out employees leave
Organizations lose the wisdom that comes from acknowledging and learning from limitations
By starting with grace, we create a different possibility:
Authentic relationships built on honesty about strengths and limitations
Sustainable work rhythms that respect human capacity
Distributed leadership where people support each other
Earlier identification of challenges before they become crises
Increased resilience through mutual support
Deeper learning as people feel safe to acknowledge mistakes
Greater creativity as people bring their whole selves to the work
This approach isn't just good for individuals—it's essential for organizational effectiveness. Research consistently shows that psychological safety (the belief that one won't be punished for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes) is a key predictor of team performance. Starting with grace creates the conditions for this safety to flourish.
When we acknowledge our limitations and create space for vulnerability, we don't lower our standards—we actually make excellence more achievable. By distributing the load, asking for help when needed, and supporting each other through challenges, we can collectively accomplish what none of us could do alone.
How It Shows Up in Our Work
In Our Team Culture
We normalize asking for help and don't view it as weakness
We share our challenges and limitations openly
We distribute work based on realistic capacity, not heroic expectations
We celebrate vulnerability as much as strength
We check in on each other's wellbeing regularly
We model boundaries and sustainable work practices
In Our Client Relationships
We build authentic relationships beyond professional facades
We're honest about our capabilities and limitations
We ask questions rather than pretending to have all the answers
We acknowledge when we're wrong or need to reconsider
We respect the full humanity of everyone we work with
We share our own learning journey alongside our expertise
In Our Program Design Support
We help organizations create realistic implementation plans
We encourage designing for actual human capacity, not ideal scenarios
We build mutual support structures into program designs
We incorporate rest and renewal into organizational rhythms
We promote cultures where feedback and adaptation are normal
We design for sustainability rather than heroic effort
Implementation Principles
Name Limitations: Acknowledge your constraints, capacity limits, and areas where you need support. Create spaces where others can do the same without judgment.
Distribute the Load: Share responsibilities based on complementary strengths rather than expecting anyone to excel at everything. Build teams where people can rely on each other.
Normalize Asking for Help: Make requesting support a regular practice, not a last resort. Demonstrate that interdependence is stronger than independence.
Create Margin: Build breathing room into schedules, projects, and expectations. Plan for human realities like illness, family needs, and varying energy levels.
Practice Self-Compassion: Treat yourself with the same grace you extend to others. Replace self-criticism with self-awareness and growth-oriented reflection.
Prioritize Relationships: Invest in authentic connections that go beyond transactional interactions. Make time for the human dimensions of work.
Embrace Vulnerability: Share challenges, questions, and learning edges. Create environments where others feel safe to do the same.
Reflection Questions
Where am I pretending to be stronger or more capable than I actually am?
What burdens am I carrying alone that could be shared?
How easily do I ask for help when I need it?
Where might I be holding others to standards that don't allow for human limitations?
How do I respond when others show vulnerability or admit limitations?
What would change if I approached this situation with more grace for myself and others?
Where in my life am I falling into the trap of self-sufficiency?
How am I modeling the balance between grace and excellence?
What boundaries do I need to establish or maintain for sustainable work?
How can I create more space for authentic connection in my professional relationships?
"Start with Grace: In a world that celebrates self-sufficiency, we recognize the truth of human limitation. We don't pretend to be stronger than we are, carry burdens alone, or hide our needs for connection and support. By naming our limitations, asking for help, and creating space for vulnerability, we build communities where people can bring their whole selves to the work of transformation." — Good Work Beliefs
