12 Traditions at Home and Work

by Doug W.

This article explores the application of A.A.’s 12 Traditions to our personal and professional lives, reflecting on our step work “… to practice these principles in all our affairs” (Step 12, pg. 60). We also strive to “… place principles before personalities” (Tradition 12).

First, it’s important to note that there are two forms of the Traditions: The long form (A.A., pg. 563), published in the AA Grapevine starting in 1946, and the short form (A.A., pg. 561), which was written for clarity and conciseness. Both forms were approved together during the first General Service Conference in 1950.

Regarding the long form, the paragraph on Alcoholics Anonymous page 563 states, “Our A.A. experience has taught us that:” and introduces the 12 Traditions. The phrase “experience has taught” acknowledges that groups make mistakes, and the Traditions provide practical guidance to

protect your group. These traditions are also spiritual in nature and can be applied outside groups and in our personal lives if we choose to do so.

In this article, I’ll provide examples of each Tradition (in the short form) and hopefully offer practical insights on how to apply them to our personal and professional lives. These are merely suggestions, not guidelines. The question remains: Are we applying these principles in all our affairs?

1. “Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.”

At Home

• Do I prioritize our common welfare? Do I consider my partner’s interests alongside my own? This includes practicing honesty, maintaining sobriety, and listening more than Do I genuinely care about others’ well-being, or am I keeping score?
• Do I initiate conversations about our shared welfare? Or do we create unrealistic expectations—often followed by resentment—about what our partners should or shouldn’t be doing? Have we agreed on household chores, parenting approaches, caring for our parents, and how or if we financially support other family members?

At Work

• Do my actions positively impact my department or company? Am I considerate of others? For instance, do I refill the coffee pot when it’s empty or restock the copier with paper? Am I mindful of the company’s overall welfare?
• Do I go beyond my job description when needed, or am I doing the bare minimum? Am I honest with my work hours, focusing on work-related tasks during business hours?
• Does our collective well-being foster unity among coworkers, management, and customers? Do I avoid complaining about others’ performance to coworkers or supervisors? Do I prioritize the best interests of the team? When reporting problems, do I do so carefully and objectively?

2. “For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority - a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.”

At Home

• Is our Higher Power the ultimate authority in our relationships? This principle applies to both couples and singles.
• Do we discuss what we believe to be our Higher Power’s will for our relationship?
• Have we agreed on the distribution of household chores and responsibilities? For example, who pays the bills, cooks, cleans, and handles other duties?
• Do we communicate effectively when outside issues arise? Are we governing each other or communicating openly?

At Work

• Do I seek guidance from my Higher Power through prayer when facing work issues or conflicts? Am I asking for guidance or making demands?
• When things don’t go well for me—for instance, when I feel unheard or misunderstood—do I accept that a Higher Power is ultimately in control?
• Do I strive to see my co-workers, managers, and customers as my Higher Power might see them, or do I harbor wishes for their harm or embarrassment? Can I recognize the Higher Power expressing itself through them?
• Am I overly critical of my colleagues and managers having decision-making power over my workday? Do I trust them or perceive their authority as unfair governance?

3. “The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.”

At Home

• Does my partner and I agree on our attendance in the A.A. fellowship? (My partner may not be in the program.) Does working with a sponsor and sponsee(s) cause time management issues or relationship jealousy? Does attending multiple A.A. meetings work for both partners?

At Work

• Do my coworkers know I’m in the program? Do I avoid “speaking A.A.” to them or give unsolicited advice about their drinking or partying? Have they noticed changes in my behavior at work since achieving sobriety?

4. “Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.”

At Home

• Do I have my own friends, interests, and hobbies? Am I autonomous?
• Does my partner and I share combined outside interests, time with other couples, and individual relationships?
• Does my partner consult me about matters that affect us both? For example, does she ask or tell you about a girls’ weekend in Las Vegas or a camping weekend with the guys? Do we check in with each other when making plans?
• Are we mindful of how we speak about each other around others? Do we avoid badmouthing our partners in meetings or gatherings? Do we model positive behavior, building up rather than tearing down our partners or other family members?
• Do we present ourselves as a united front?

At Work

• Do I complete my tasks and responsibilities independently, or do I frequently rely on coworkers for help because I failed to learn how to do my tasks, If I did, am I taking time away from their work?
• Do I take on others’ tasks because I believe I can do them better?
• Am I expressing opinions about my employer that could negatively impact my friends or coworkers? For instance, do I say, “I work there, but I would never buy their products?”
• Am I complaining about my or other departments, potentially disrupting the company’s unity?
• Do I maintain a negative attitude about others in the company that could be detrimental?
• Am I influencing others to act against the company’s interests?

5. “Each group has but one primary purpose - to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.”

At Home

• Do my partner and I agree on our relationship’s primary purpose? Are we a unified team or two individuals acting like roommates?
• Do I focus on our shared goals, or do I isolate myself?
• When we need to compromise, how do my actions affect my partner, children, in-laws, and parents when we need to compromise?
• Has our primary purpose evolved? As our children grow up or our parents require more assistance, has the importance of our time shifted? How has this impacted our intimacy, and are we agreeing to these changes?

At Work

• Am I working towards or against the company’s mission statement or vision?
• Do I continue to promote the company’s message, even when I feel my efforts yield no visible results?
• Do I avoid sabotaging company outcomes, even if I feel under-compensated for my efforts and time of employment?

6. “An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.”

At Home

• Do I endorse causes like placing political signs in the yard or signing neighbor petitions without discussing how these outside issues might impact our relationship?
• Do I give money to outside causes, political funds, group funding campaigns, or other fundraisers? Do I consult my partner before offering finances?
• Do I consider my partner’s opinion when loaning items such as a car or tools or when lending money?

At Work

• Do I check with coworkers for their opinions before representing a view or endorsement to other coworkers, departments, or management? Do we act like a team?
• Do I ask coworkers about their ideas on what they need to do their jobs, such as influencing the company’s spending budget as a team?
• Am I speaking for the company without consent when I give opinions in talks or announcements? Am I using the company’s reputation for personal gain?

7. “Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.”

At Home

• Do I pay my way?
• Do I earn my agreed-upon portion? Have my partner and I agreed on terms for our expenses?
• Are we self-supporting? Do we accept financial support from family?
• Do we use credit wisely, or is one partner spending money on items that will be discarded before they’re paid off?
• Does financial support from gifts or parents impair the primary purpose and unity?

At Work

• Am I willing to make my work self-supporting? Do I complete all my tasks, or do I just look busy?
• If I notice something empty (coffee pot, copier), do I refill it or leave it for someone else?
• Due to poor time management, do I ask others for help finishing my tasks?
• Are personal issues interfering with my work?
• Is my effort a fair share of the workload? Am I doing what they’re paying me to do?
• Do I seek help from others in ways that impact their tasks?

8. “Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non- professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.”

At Home

• Is our partnership non-professional? For example, do we work together? If we’re in business together, do we treat each other with the same respect at work as a non-family member?
• What unique skills do I possess that my partner doesn’t, such as mechanical abilities or landscaping knowledge? Conversely, what skills does my partner have that I don’t, like money management or household upkeep?
• Do we divide household tasks according to our talents to keep our lives running smoothly?
• If neither of us has the necessary skills for a task, do we seek help from those who do (special workers), such as mechanics, contractors, or cleaners?

At Work

• Do I understand the responsibilities of my coworkers and other departments and how my work affects their workflow?
• Am I willing to admit when I lack the knowledge to complete a task effectively?
• Do I feel comfortable asking coworkers or other departments for assistance? If my employer lacks the resources to complete a job successfully, am I willing to suggest bringing in external specialists?

9. “A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.”

At Home

• Do I represent our partnership’s interests in community organizations like neighborhood associations or homeowners’ associations? Would my partner be proud of how I convey our shared opinions to others?
• Does my partner have specific responsibilities in our partnership, such as handling adult matters like insurance, banking, taxes, and investments?
• Does my partner and I openly discuss our fears and goals, especially when unsure about each other’s stance on an issue?

At Work

• Does my employer have relationships with external entities, such as regulatory agencies or professional organizations? Am I supporting or hindering these relationships? Do I understand the roles of our representatives in these interactions?
• Is there someone who represents my interests to company leadership, such as managers, directors, executives, union representatives, or public relations staff? Do I understand and support their responsibilities in this role? Have I voiced my concerns correctly if I disagree with certain work practices?

10. “Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.”

At Home

• What opinions do my partner and I share on outside issues, and where do we differ?
• When we disagree, do we treat each other with respect?

At Work

• How do my views on outside issues align with or differ from those of my employer? For instance, if my company receives government funding, am I supportive of paying higher taxes to sustain such programs?
• If I express concerns publicly, do I maintain a respectful attitude towards my employer?

11. “Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.”

At Home

• Does our partnership appear attractive to others?
• Am I considerate of my partner’s privacy?
• Am I careful on Social Media to not disclose others in the program?
• Can my partner and I agree on our discretion about our recovery journey with family, friends, and colleagues?

At Work

• Am I familiar with my employer’s public relations guidelines? For instance, does my company restrict employees from speaking to the public or designate specific individuals for media interactions?
• Do I represent my employer positively to the public?
• Do I accurately communicate my employer’s policies to others? For example, does my company promote work-life balance or offer the option to exchange unused vacation time for pay?
• Do I recognize how my words about my employer can affect my job? Do I refrain from frequently criticizing of my employer or complaints about product quality that could potentially harm sales?

12. “Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.”

At Home

• Does my partner and I share a similar spiritual foundation in our relationship?
• Can I overlook minor irritations in my partner’s personality or those of our friends and family to maintain a harmonious relationship?

At Work

• Do I bring a spiritual foundation to my work? For example, am I honest, humble, and ethical?
• Can I set aside my dislike of coworkers’ personalities to focus on upholding workplace principles?