Code of Ethical Practice

1. Integrity and Responsibility

Inspired by PMI's values of honesty and responsibility.

 

We do what we say, and we mean what we do. Integrity here isn’t perfection—it’s practice.

 

We commit to:

• Speaking truthfully—even when it’s uncomfortable.

• Following through, especially when it would be easier not to.

• Acknowledging when we’ve caused harm, whether by action or omission.

• Addressing conflicts of interest clearly and early.

• Saying “I don’t know” more often than we say things we don’t mean.

We avoid:

• Misusing our role, voice, or expertise for personal or political gain.

• Hiding mistakes, blaming others, or gaslighting our teams.

• Misrepresenting our experience, credentials, or capabilities.

• Cutting corners because “no one’s watching.”

​

Success means our work earns trust over time—not because it’s flawless, but because it’s grounded in courage and clarity.

​

2. Respect and Fairness

Aligned with INCOSE’s emphasis on equity, impartiality, and nondiscrimination.

 

We honor every human being’s right to dignity—whether they’re leading a keynote or cleaning up the meeting room.

 

We commit to:

• Creating learning and working environments where every person feels safe, seen, and valued.

• Listening fully before responding.

• Naming bias when we see it—and being open to seeing it in ourselves.

• Advocating for equitable access and opportunity at all levels of engagement.

We avoid:

• Discriminatory practices—explicit or implicit.

• Silencing, tokenizing, or “diversifying” without also empowering.

• Using credentials, titles, or proximity to power as permission to dominate or dismiss.
   

Success means that everyone in the room feels respected, not just included—and that fairness is baked into our structures, not just our statements.

 

3. Continuous Learning and Growth

Reflective of Prosci’s change principles and the IDG’s “Being” dimension.

 

We’re all a work in progress. That’s not a disclaimer—it’s a value.

 

We commit to:

• Staying curious, especially when we think we’re right.

• Seeking out feedback with the same enthusiasm we reserve for praise.

• Owning our blind spots and doing the work to address them.

• Recognizing when we’ve outgrown an old mindset—and letting it go.

We avoid:

• Coasting on old wins, outdated tools, or “what worked last time.”

• Confusing certainty with wisdom.

• Opting out of learning because we’re “too senior” or “too busy.”

​

Success means learning is visible, shared, and real—not a checkbox, but a way of showing up.

 

4. Connection with Nature and Regenerative Practices

Informed by ILFI’s Living Future standards and Biophilic Design principles.

 

We don’t lead on a blank whiteboard—we lead in an interconnected world. One that breathes.

 

We commit to:

• Considering the ecological footprint of our decisions, events, and tools.

• Designing environments—physical and digital—that reconnect us to nature and to each other.

• Respecting place, space, and community in all we do.

• Exploring the role of nature as a teacher, not just a backdrop.

We avoid:

• Treating sustainability as a branding exercise.

• Creating change that depletes people, ecosystems, or energy.

• Ignoring the broader systems our decisions impact.

​

Success means we leave the systems we touch stronger, more balanced, and more beautiful than we found them.

 

5. Courageous and Compassionate Leadership

Echoing the IDG’s “Relating” and “Acting” dimensions.

 

Leadership isn't a job title. It's a way of showing up when things get hard—and choosing presence over performance.

 

We commit to:

• Speaking up when something’s not right.

• Asking for help when we need it (and letting others do the same).

• Making space for emotions—without letting fear run the show.

• Creating cultures where power is shared, not hoarded.

We avoid:

• Leading through fear, control, or false certainty.

• Using our authority to shut down disagreement.

• Pretending to know it all—or expecting others to.

​

Success means people around us feel braver, not smaller—and that our leadership helps others rise.

 

Acknowledgment

By enrolling in a Maypop Grove program or engaging with our work, you’re agreeing to hold yourself to this Code—not as a performance, but as a practice.

​

You don’t need to be perfect. You do need to be accountable.

 

We lead change with our choices, not just our credentials. And around here, we believe the strongest leaders are the ones who model courage in the small moments, even when no one’s clapping.