Conduct and norms

At TTSC, we follow various policies and practices. In everything we do, we strive to create a work environment that encourages collaboration — both with our partners and each other.

In general, err on the side of over-communication, such as by asking clarifying questions and restating information to confirm understanding.

• Default to open conversations in the widest appropriate forum.
• Document and make work visible to others. Storing information in your head or notebook makes collaboration and handoffs more difficult.
• Set aside time for meeting prep to help attendees use time efficiently and come ready to contribute. (18F blog post: How to run an efficient meeting)

Codes of conduct

As employees of GSA, FAS, TTS, and TTS Consulting, we are required to adhere to these codes of conduct:

• TTS-only, GSA Information Technology (IT) General Rules of Behavior
• TTS Code of Conduct
• TTSC Slack Code of Conduct

If you have a question about the codes of conduct, reach out to your supervisor.

Collaboration

The following practices help us collaborate.

Working hours

TTSC staff are spread across many time zones, states, and territories. Indicate your working hours on your Google calendar, and be mindful of your colleagues’ time zones.

If you work outside of standard business hours, take care not to imply that others should do the same: use the scheduled send functions in Slack and Gmail so that messages arrive during standard business hours.

Interacting on Slack

Using Slack at TTS is different from using Slack at other workplaces because we’re federal employees, and Slack is a TTS-only, Public Record System. That means that — like email and recorded meetings — it is subject to the , external,Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Follow the TTSC Slack Code of Conduct:

Interacting in meetings

Follow these practices for video meetings.

• Minimize noise: Work from a quiet space without much background noise.
• Muting: Mute your microphone when you aren’t speaking so that your background noise doesn’t distract others. In smaller meetings, un-muting also signals that you’d like to speak. In larger meetings, use the meeting platform’s hand-raise feature.
• Seek privacy: If you need to discuss sensitive topics, give a presentation, or handle personnel issues, make sure you have privacy in your physical space.
• On the go: Attending meetings from transit or outside of a dedicated workspace should be rare. Especially avoid doing this in meetings that involve screen-sharing, collaboration, or presentations.
• Video on: Default to using video when possible. Nonverbal cues like facial expressions and gestures help keep the conversation moving and build empathy and trust. Of course, being on screen all day can be taxing so use face muting when you need to.
• Make introductions: At the beginning of each meeting, make sure that everyone present has met, and that anyone calling in by phone has identified themselves. In introductions, include your name, pronouns, and role.
• Back-channeling: It’s common for V meetings to have a “backchannel” in the meeting platform’s chat, Slack, or Gchat. The backchannel is a space for questions and commentary from attendees, but it can be distracting: if you prefer, you can ignore the backchannel during the meeting and read it afterward. Communicate your preferences about backchanneling to your teammates.

In discussion-based meetings, pay attention to whose voices dominate. If you notice an imbalance, be proactive to uncover other perspectives. Creating an inclusive discussion space isn’t just a courtesy to other participants: it can lead to richer conversation and better outcomes.

• Careful facilitation (for example, “Let’s go around the room”) helps everyone get a chance to speak.
• Silent writing time in a shared document (such as a Google Doc or Mural), provides a way for participants to contribute without speaking out loud.
• Explicitly inviting input from specific individuals — either in the meeting (“Herbert, what do you think? I know you have expertise in this area”) or privately (by DMing them to say that you would value their opinion) — can encourage quieter team members to share their ideas.

For information about meeting platforms, see internal communications.