Our Community Guidelines aim to give community ethics and a stance on various potentially controversial matters. We trust you to use your better judgment, but we want to provide you with a concrete guide you can fall back on if you’re unsure how to conduct yourself(e.g. in cases of conflict of interest). We will also use this Guideline to outline the consequences of violating our Community Guidelines.
This Guideline applies to everyone who joins our program. This includes individual people such as mentors, instructors, students, and guest speakers.
What is meant by professional ethics? First, let’s define professional ethics: they are principles that guide people's behavior in a community context. They are essential to maintaining the legality of the community and a healthy and safe learning space. So what are Community Guidelines? Our Community Guidelines definition refers to the standards that apply to all participants/ stakeholders involved directly or indirectly in a specific setting – in this case, our community.
Having our community ethics in writing doesn’t mean that we don’t trust our members. instead, ensure we strive to get people who have their own personal standards that align with the larger community we create You may find yourself in a situation where you’re unsure how to act. Life is full of gray areas where right and wrong aren’t so apparent. Some professional ethics also correspond to laws that you absolutely must know to do your job properly, so we will mention them in our Community Guidelines. Additionally, every community has bad apples. We also can’t predict how people are going to behave. When someone behaves, or intends to behave, in a way that’s against our professional ethics, or applicable laws, we will have clear guidelines on what disciplinary actions we will consider. For these reasons, we advise you to read this document carefully and consult with either Attharv or Shravan if you have any doubts.
We base our Community Guidelines on common principles of ethics- ● Respect for others. Treat people as you want to be treated. ● Integrity and honesty. Tell the truth and avoid any wrongdoing to the best of your ability. ● Be Fair and Follow the Guidelines: Treat everyone equally and don’t do anything unfair. Always know and obey the guidelines. ● Competence and Accountability. Work hard and be responsible for your work. ● Teamwork. Collaborate and ask for help. Here’s a more detailed overview of our code:
It’s mandatory to respect everyone you interact with. Be kind, polite, and understanding. You must respect others’ personal space, opinions, and privacy. Any kind of violence is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate termination. You’re also not allowed to harass or victimize others. As a general rule, try to put yourself in someone else’s place. How would you feel if someone behaved in a specific way to you? If the answer is “I wouldn’t like it much” or “I would never let them behave like that to me”, then we don’t tolerate this behavior no matter the person it comes from. If someone, be it a mentor, fellow community member, buddy or instructor is offensive, demeaning or threatening toward you or someone you know, report them immediately to your Mentor or Buddy. You can also report rudeness and dismissiveness if they become excessive or frequent.
First, always keep in mind our community’s mission. We all work together to achieve specific outcomes. Your behavior should contribute to your goals of learning and our goals as a community, Be honest and transparent when you act in ways that impact other people. We don’t tolerate malicious, deceitful, or petty conduct. Lies and cheating are huge red flags and, if you’re discovered, you may face progressive discipline or immediate removal from the community depending on the impact and the damage done.
Conflict of interest may occur whenever your interest in a particular subject leads you to actions, activities, or relationships that undermine our community. Even when you seemingly act to the community’s advantage, you may be disadvantaged. For example, if a member shares our IP like PPTs and session recordings be it regular, fun, guest, or group discussions somewhere, these actions can be held against you and you will be reprimanded for them. If it turns out you have created a conflict of interest for yourself, you will be removed. If the conflict of interest is involuntary, we will take action to rectify the situation. If you repeat the offense, you may be removed from the community.
Treat everyone equally and avoid exploiting others or their mistakes. Ensure everyone has equal opportunities and speak up against unfair treatment. Be objective in decisions that impact others and avoid discrimination. When in a position of authority, be fair and transparent without showing favoritism. Always follow our confidentiality, data protection, and cybersecurity guidelines. Do not expose or misuse stakeholder information. If you’re unsure about legal matters, consult Shravan or Attharv.
We all need to put a healthy amount of effort in our work. Not just because we’re all responsible for our success, but the community’s success as well. Incomplete or slow work might hinder other people’s work or cause them to shoulder the burden themselves. This comes in direct conflict with our respect and integrity principles., Also, take responsibility for your actions. We all make mistakes or need to make tough decisions and we must own up to them. Failing to be accountable regularly or in important situations will result in removal from the cohort. If you take responsibility and come up with ways to fix your mistakes where possible, you will be in a far better position.
Working well with others is a virtue, rather than an obligation. You should also be ready to collaborate with and help others. Be generous with your expertise and knowledge. Be open to learning and evolving. If days go by without you consulting or brainstorming with anyone, you are missing out on opportunities for excellence. Instead, work with others, and don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it.