Values

We talk a lot about our mission and vision (and for good reason!), but we don’t always highlight our core values—and they matter just as much!

Back when we were brainstorming all the traits we hoped to live by as an organization, we came up with a very long list! Then we narrowed it down to the ones that felt most essential:

   1. Respect and cultural sensitivity

   2. Working together (collaboration)

   3. Finding common ground (bridging differences) 

   4. Long-term thinking (sustainability)

Respect and cultural sensitivity means we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. Every partner and project is different—and we love that.

We’re all about teamwork, and we know there’s more than one “right way” to solve a problem.

Finding common ground takes a lot of communication, open-mindedness, and willingness to learn—especially since we work across so many cultures and communities.

We often use the word “bridge” to talk about how we connect with different languages, perspectives, and traditions in our network of feisty hummingbirds -- because it's a universal analogy that doesn't require lots of clarification. 

However, the strategic reality of Natik's intercultural connections is closer to what is known in Game Theory as the Positive-Sum Outcome, more commonly known as 'win-win'. That's where the overall benefits are greater than the sum of the individual gains. 

To accomplish that, it's always important to remember that everyone brings their own worldview to the table, and it only works when we respect and value each other’s way of seeing -- and doing -- things. 

Many development models establish predetermined 'success criteria' which can be used as  justification for terminating the relationship when those criteria have been met. 

By contrast, Natik believes that long-term sustainability is best served by finding ways to stay connected beyond the "success" of any given organization and their beneficiaries. The probability of regional impact increases exponentially through inter-organizational (and interpersonal) networks of long-term relationships of trust and transparency. 

The July 31st Partner Update will have a few examples of how some of the current inter-organizational relationships are currently playing out.