What to do if someone is behaving in a non-VSHNary way?

As described by our Company Values:

Values are the definition of VSHNaryness: how we behave and interact with each other as VSHNeers and as VSHN.

What does this mean in practice? How do we notice if someone is behaving in a non-VSHNary way? And what should be done if this non-VSHNary behavior persists?

It’s important to understand that we’re not talking about single mistakes or problems (after all, we are humans), but about repeated, non-VSHNary behavior over a longer period, affecting other VSHNeers, a team, externals, or the company as a whole.

Positive and Negative Examples of VSHNaryness

Each positive example on the left corresponds to the numbered negative example on the right. This is a non-exclusive list of examples.

Value	Positive example	Negative example
Accountability	VSHNeer tells you that they take care of something, and it is taken care of (they deliver what was promised). VSHNeer tells you that they take care of something, but when they find there is no time, they inform you or find a different solution. VSHNeers offer help when they are able to. VSHNeer understands and takes care of their responsibilities, so as a stakeholder you don’t have to follow up or ask.	VSHNeer tells you that they take care of something and then doesn’t do it. VSHNeer doesn’t do the tasks they are responsible for or committed to and doesn’t inform you (as the stakeholder). VSHNeer never offers help even when asked by another VSHNeer. VSHNeer is involved everywhere but leaves their actual job behind, which leads to more issues and stress for the teammates.
Curiosity	VSHNeer experiments and learns new things to address the challenges at hand. Fail quickly, fail often, and do it better next time. VSHNeer is open to new things and constantly educates themselves.	VSHNeer does not want to learn or touch new things (without any proper reason). VSHNeer does not develop knowledge-wise. VSHNeer rejects further education and/or new ways of thinking, solutions, or work, etc. ("we have always done it this way" attitude).
Effectivity	VSHNeer questions the tasks at hand and prioritizes doing the right things to get the job done and to fulfil the responsibilities of their role or team. VSHNeer stays focused on what is needed to get the job done. VSHNeer is always seeking ways to understand needs and to improve work based on them, whether through automation or rethinking things for the good of the company and therefore all VSHNeers.	VSHNeer works randomly on incoming tasks without knowing why (higher purpose) nor asking why. VSHNeer gets lost in the details of a task or problem, not knowing why they are doing what they are doing and not getting help. VSHNeer invests time into changing, improving, or automating things without being clear whether it addresses an actual organizational need ("the problem is not the absence of your solution").
Integrity	VSHNeer is honest and virtuous. VSHNeer gives and takes constructive criticism, seriously reflects on it, and is interested in improving (you can always learn). VSHNeer is able to offer criticism respectfully and constructively, remains calm and objective, and focuses on how to improve. VSHNeer follows through on agreements even if they don’t agree with or like them (as long as no objection is brought up). VSHNeer sees themselves as part of VSHN, accepts that not everything is great, and sees themselves as part of finding solutions.	VSHNeer does not behave respectfully toward others, talks behind their backs, or pursues a hidden agenda. VSHNeer doesn’t accept feedback, justifies it directly, and sees it as an attack. VSHNeer blames others (blame game) or criticizes on a personal level. VSHNeer does not adhere to agreements and talks badly about them behind the backs of those who own them. VSHNeer talks against VSHN, complains and brings up the same issues over and over again, but doesn’t take part in bringing solutions.
Positivity	VSHNeer is fun to work with and optimistic ("glass is half full"), looks forward. VSHNeer notices problems and opportunities, tries to understand them, and brings them to the attention of whoever is responsible. If no one is responsible, they take ownership to drive it forward if there seems to be an organizational need for it.	VSHNeer is stuck in the past, talks negatively and spreads this around the team or company, and drags others down. VSHNeer recognizes a risk, problem, or opportunity and keeps it to themselves or only complains about it.
Transparency	VSHNeer shares results and know-how with other VSHNeers through an appropriate channel (unless there is a specific reason for confidentiality). VSHNeer communicates openly with the customer and ensures they are always up-to-date about the progress of a ticket. VSHNeer brings up opportunities, tensions and problems openly. VSHNeer documents their work and progress, and standardizes and automates things to be replaceable in a good way. VSHNeer improves existing documentation or contributes to those who are responsible for it.	VSHNeer keeps important things to themselves, doesn’t share them with other VSHNeers, or even hides information intentionally. VSHNeer doesn’t communicate openly with the customer or doesn’t inform them about progress and/or next steps. VSHNeer keeps discovered issues to themselves and doesn’t share ideas or opportunities (not my problem attitude). Other VSHNeers don’t find the needed information about the status and progress of the work. For example, if the VSHNeer is sick and someone else has to step in, things are not documented, or are documented in a way that you can’t find them. VSHNeer just complains about things not being documented, but doesn’t help with documenting or create a follow-up to ensure additional documentation.

Value

Positive example

Negative example

Accountability

VSHNeer tells you that they take care of something, and it is taken care of (they deliver what was promised).
VSHNeer tells you that they take care of something, but when they find there is no time, they inform you or find a different solution.
VSHNeers offer help when they are able to.
VSHNeer understands and takes care of their responsibilities, so as a stakeholder you don’t have to follow up or ask.

VSHNeer tells you that they take care of something and then doesn’t do it.
VSHNeer doesn’t do the tasks they are responsible for or committed to and doesn’t inform you (as the stakeholder).
VSHNeer never offers help even when asked by another VSHNeer.
VSHNeer is involved everywhere but leaves their actual job behind, which leads to more issues and stress for the teammates.

Curiosity

VSHNeer experiments and learns new things to address the challenges at hand. Fail quickly, fail often, and do it better next time.
VSHNeer is open to new things and constantly educates themselves.

VSHNeer does not want to learn or touch new things (without any proper reason).
VSHNeer does not develop knowledge-wise. VSHNeer rejects further education and/or new ways of thinking, solutions, or work, etc. ("we have always done it this way" attitude).

Effectivity

VSHNeer questions the tasks at hand and prioritizes doing the right things to get the job done and to fulfil the responsibilities of their role or team.
VSHNeer stays focused on what is needed to get the job done.
VSHNeer is always seeking ways to understand needs and to improve work based on them, whether through automation or rethinking things for the good of the company and therefore all VSHNeers.

VSHNeer works randomly on incoming tasks without knowing why (higher purpose) nor asking why.
VSHNeer gets lost in the details of a task or problem, not knowing why they are doing what they are doing and not getting help.
VSHNeer invests time into changing, improving, or automating things without being clear whether it addresses an actual organizational need ("the problem is not the absence of your solution").

Integrity

VSHNeer is honest and virtuous.
VSHNeer gives and takes constructive criticism, seriously reflects on it, and is interested in improving (you can always learn).
VSHNeer is able to offer criticism respectfully and constructively, remains calm and objective, and focuses on how to improve.
VSHNeer follows through on agreements even if they don’t agree with or like them (as long as no objection is brought up).
VSHNeer sees themselves as part of VSHN, accepts that not everything is great, and sees themselves as part of finding solutions.

VSHNeer does not behave respectfully toward others, talks behind their backs, or pursues a hidden agenda.
VSHNeer doesn’t accept feedback, justifies it directly, and sees it as an attack.
VSHNeer blames others (blame game) or criticizes on a personal level.
VSHNeer does not adhere to agreements and talks badly about them behind the backs of those who own them.
VSHNeer talks against VSHN, complains and brings up the same issues over and over again, but doesn’t take part in bringing solutions.

Positivity

VSHNeer is fun to work with and optimistic ("glass is half full"), looks forward.
VSHNeer notices problems and opportunities, tries to understand them, and brings them to the attention of whoever is responsible. If no one is responsible, they take ownership to drive it forward if there seems to be an organizational need for it.

VSHNeer is stuck in the past, talks negatively and spreads this around the team or company, and drags others down.
VSHNeer recognizes a risk, problem, or opportunity and keeps it to themselves or only complains about it.

Transparency

VSHNeer shares results and know-how with other VSHNeers through an appropriate channel (unless there is a specific reason for confidentiality).
VSHNeer communicates openly with the customer and ensures they are always up-to-date about the progress of a ticket.
VSHNeer brings up opportunities, tensions and problems openly.
VSHNeer documents their work and progress, and standardizes and automates things to be replaceable in a good way.
VSHNeer improves existing documentation or contributes to those who are responsible for it.

VSHNeer keeps important things to themselves, doesn’t share them with other VSHNeers, or even hides information intentionally.
VSHNeer doesn’t communicate openly with the customer or doesn’t inform them about progress and/or next steps.
VSHNeer keeps discovered issues to themselves and doesn’t share ideas or opportunities (not my problem attitude).
Other VSHNeers don’t find the needed information about the status and progress of the work. For example, if the VSHNeer is sick and someone else has to step in, things are not documented, or are documented in a way that you can’t find them.
VSHNeer just complains about things not being documented, but doesn’t help with documenting or create a follow-up to ensure additional documentation.

First Steps

If you or your team is dealing with someone who is repeatedly behaving in a non-VSHNary way, this is a value-fit concern and is handled as Track 3 of the Conflict Resolution and Personal Development Process.