Open Communication—Practice open communication. Protect the rights of others and be a good listener. Everyone has a right to his or her own opinion. Think about individual and personal factors. Be flexible enough to perceive where the other person is coming from. Use your powers of patience and compassion when communicating. Regularly scheduled hypes and gripes sessions are a forum for the expression of feelings. Feedback is important.

Avoid Power Plays—Avoid power plays such as “all or nothing,” copping out, intimidation, rigidity, self righteousness or martyrdom, lying, sabotage, creating a crisis, or acting defensive. When power plays occur, make sure they are defined and worked through as soon as possible.

Equal Rights—Remember that everyone is equal. There are no bosses here at Casa. Work to avoid behavior based on hierarchical models positionwise, personalitywise, or shiftwise. And the wiser we will be.

Participation—Participation is a responsibility of all co-op members. Involvement in the decision making of the co-op as well as restaurant operations is encouraged. In decision making all opinions must be considered with respect. Efforts should be made to find common goals. When necessary, try to compromise in such a way that everyone’s needs can be met.

Positive Attitude—Develop a positive attitude toward and take pride in your work. This attitude will communicate itself to both customers and co-workers. This is especially important for wait staff, who function as PR representatives for the business.

Know your Limitations—Be aware of your own and others’ limitations. Don’t take on responsibilities you can’t handle, or more work than you are capable of. Don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it, and don’t wait until it’s too late and you’re swamped.

Dealing with Conflicts—When you are having a problem with a co-worker, deal with that person directly, and as soon as possible. Don’t allow tension to grow.

Acknowledgement—Acknowledge and praise a job well done. Offer support and constructive criticism when needed, and right away.

Personal Responsibility—Remember that you job performance reflects on every other member, and in our collective income. Make it a point to be aware of your own work responsibilities such as your schedule, job description, side work, etc. Be on time. Furthermore, develop an awareness of the “big picture” as well as your own job description. Be willing to step out of your job description when necessary to make co-workers’ jobs easier, or to contribute to more efficient operations.