How to Succeed at 71 North

A Quick Overview for New Team Members

For new student employees, interns, volunteers, project contributors, and first-time team members.

Welcome to 71 North Partnership Studio

You are joining a place where students, faculty, staff, and partners work together to build projects, test ideas, support innovation, and create meaningful impact.

You do not need to know everything on day one.

You do need to show up with curiosity, communicate clearly, and make your work visible.

At 71 North, success is not just completing tasks. Success is becoming the kind of collaborator others want to build with.

The 71 North Way in Practice

1. Make Your Work Visible

Do not let your work live only in your head, your laptop, or a private message.

Use the right tools so others can see progress, offer help, and build on what you are doing.

Ask yourself:

Where can someone see what I am working on?

2. Ask for Help Early

Being stuck is normal. Disappearing is not.

When you are blocked, say:

I am trying to __.
I am blocked because __.
I have already tried __.
I need help with __.

3. Learn by Making

You do not need a perfect plan before starting.

Begin with a small draft, prototype, checklist, sketch, issue, document, or test.

Small visible progress creates momentum.

Ask yourself:

What is the smallest useful thing I can make next?

4. Make Others Better

A good team member helps others understand, contribute, and grow.

This can mean:

  • Sharing notes.
  • Explaining what you learned.
  • Helping someone get started.
  • Giving useful feedback.
  • Documenting a process.
  • Leaving files organized.

Ask yourself:

How can I make the next person’s work easier?

5. Leave Evidence

Your work should leave a trail.

Evidence can include:

  • GitHub issues.
  • Project board updates.
  • Living documentation.
  • Screenshots.
  • Time reports.
  • Reflection notes.
  • Drafts.
  • Prototypes.
  • Presentations.
  • Portfolio artifacts.

Ask yourself:

What will show what I contributed?

Your First Month

First 2 Weeks: Learn the Studio

Focus on:

  • Meeting people.
  • Learning the tools.
  • Understanding current projects.
  • Asking questions.
  • Making one small visible contribution.

Success looks like:

I understand the basics, I know where work happens, and I have contributed something small but real.

Second 2 Weeks: Join the Work

Focus on:

  • Taking ownership of a task.
  • Updating your progress.
  • Tracking your time.
  • Asking for feedback.
  • Leaving evidence of what you learn and contribute.

Success looks like:

I am beginning to create momentum for the team.

Tools We Use

Tool or System Use It For
GitHub Tasks, issues, project boards, documentation, public work
Range Check-ins, blockers, weekly updates, reflection
Clockify Time tracking and work summaries
Canva Visual assets, flyers, presentations, and branded materials
UXcel Learning, design skill-building, assessments, team development
Miro / Mural Visual collaboration, mapping, brainstorming, and synthesis
Lyssna User research, prototype testing, surveys, interviews, and usability testing
Perdoo Goals, OKRs, strategy alignment, and progress tracking
Shared drives Working documents and files
Microsoft Teams Time-sensitive coordination, event-day logistics, and prompt-response situations

Five Habits That Will Help You Thrive

  1. Show up prepared.
  2. Communicate before there is a problem.
  3. Write things down where others can see them.
  4. Share unfinished work.
  5. Leave the studio better than you found it.

The 71 North Studio Compact

When you join 71 North, we ask you to:

  • Show up with curiosity.
  • Make your work visible.
  • Ask for help early.
  • Help others generously.
  • Communicate with care.
  • Respect different forms of expertise.
  • Treat the studio as a shared resource.
  • Build things others can understand, use, and improve.
  • Write things down where others can see them.
  • Share credit.
  • Take care of relationships.
  • Leave evidence of your contribution.
  • Make the next person’s work easier.
  • Leave the studio better than you found it.

In return, 71 North offers you:

  • A place to practice real collaboration.
  • Projects that matter.
  • Mentors, peers, and partners.
  • Space to experiment.
  • Permission to learn by making.
  • Tools for visible work.
  • Opportunities to develop professional habits.
  • Support for reflection and growth.
  • A pathway from curiosity to contribution.
  • A community that values what you can become.

To understand the larger culture behind this quick overview, read The 71 North Way.

For detailed expectations, tools, checklists, and review milestones, read The 71 North Team Guide.

This page is part of The 71 North Way, a living document maintained in the open. Read the source or suggest a change on GitHub.

The 71 North Way

The Culture Book

Maintained in the open at 71NORTH/way.