Our Community Without Limits Framework

At the University of York, we recognise the power of a great staff community. That's why, as part of our University Strategy, we're on a mission to create a community without limits. 

We believe that a great community is not just about technical knowledge and skills but also about the behaviours that are essential for making our work environment one where we can all thrive. 

Colleagues across the University came together to define the behaviours that are important to us as a staff community. These are described in our Community Without Limits Framework.

Our behavioural themes

Respect

We treat people with care and empathy, respecting differences in circumstances, culture and background.

Innovation

We adapt to changing circumstances and needs. We are open to new ideas and are curious and creative. We constantly develop and improve ourselves and the University.

Open Communication

We are open and honest with each other. We are clear, calm and courageous, encouraging debate and enabling all voices to be heard.

Collaboration

We get on well with colleagues and partners, supporting each other and working collaboratively to achieve shared goals.

Make Things Happen

We meet challenges. We are positive, organised and empowering, driving work forward.

Big Picture

We are forward looking, creating ambitious goals. We help people to understand and align with the University vision and purpose.

A thriving work environment is not just about knowledge and skills but about how we work together. Our staff community is the foundation of all the successes marked in our REF and TEF results and in so many other ways. So building a shared view of how we work well together, including  the behaviours we value, is the key to our continued success in the future. This Community without Limits framework was created by our staff, in their words, and sets out behaviours which we can all get behind.

Charlie Jeffery, Vice-Chancellor and President

What is the framework?

Imagine technical skills as the tools in your toolbox - things like coding, writing reports, or analysing data. They're the expertise you need to get the job done. By comparison, behaviours are how you use those tools and how you interact with others while you're at it. They are things like supporting others, coming up with ideas or building good relationships. They're the soft skills that help you navigate your way through the workplace and enable a positive working environment. So, while technical skills get the job done, behaviours are what make sure you do it effectively and in synergy with your colleagues. 

We've been listening to our staff, and together, we've identified some key behaviours that drive our collective success. We describe these in the Community Without Limits framework, which revolves around six key themes:  Respect, Innovation, Open Communication, Collaboration, Making Things Happen and Big Picture. Having this shared understanding of our behaviours helps us create a workplace where everyone feels supported, included, and able to do their best.

What do the levels in the framework relate to? 

Each behavioural theme in the framework is described at three different levels. In addition to the actions that we can all demonstrate to enrich our working environments, there are additional actions that those leading people and those leading the organisation can take to benefit the staff community. Having a levelled framework allows you to select the part of the framework that is most relevant to your context. 

  • ‘As a Colleague’ level: outlines the behavioural indicators that are important for all individuals within our staff community.
  • ‘Leading People’ level: outlines additional indicators for line managers or for other roles that don’t involve formal line management but do involve leading or managing others. Roles will typically be, but not restricted to, Grades 5-8. 
  • ‘Leading the Organisation’ level: this level outlines additional indicators for strategic leaders. Roles will typically be, but not restricted to, Grades 9 and above. 

Using the framework 

The Community Without Limits framework is a versatile tool designed to enhance how we collaborate and interact as a community of staff. Created by our staff, in their words, it offers valuable support for both team dynamics and individual development, helping us to build and nurture great working environments at York. Some current applications are: 

By integrating the framework into your daily work and professional development, you can not only improve how you work with others but also shape your career path to achieve your long-term goals.

FAQs

Next steps

You can download a copy of either the full framework or a shortened version specific to the As a Colleague, When Leading People, or When Leading the Organisation level to fully familiarise yourself with the behaviours and reflect on how to apply it to your personal development, your team and your working environment.