Wordcount: 391 Time to read: 2 minutes
Your beliefs become your thoughts.
Your thoughts become your words.
Your words become your actions.
Your actions become your habits.
Your habits become your values.
Your values become your destiny.
Mahatma Gandhi
Every business has a human element. Every human has values, whether explicitly stated, recognized … or not. Therefore, every business has values, whether known, staff is aligned with them … or not.
Many roll their eyes at the mere mention of business values. Their claim? Values are too touchy-feely and have little worth. These eye-rollers are right for the wrong reasons. Unenforced, improperly used, or written for show values statements are worse than worthless; they’re harmful.
Why care about values statements? A provocative and captivating aspect of businesses is their ability to bring like-minded people together. Values are the bricks and like-mindedness is the mortar of organizational culture. Together, bricks and mortar create engagement. Engagement leads to a stable, committed, and durable workforce.
When you and I have common values, we automatically have common ground. When issues, problems, or conflicts arise in the course of doing business, common ground can provide the opportunity for people on opposite sides of these situations to find points of connection and talk. The more aligned the values of everyone involved in the process, the more likely they will be to find common ground.
Common ground is how relationships are developed. Common ground is how partnerships are built. Common ground is what makes collaboration work. Common ground gives us permission to respect one another and enjoy working together. Enjoyment creates an emotional draw and attracts people.
Firms with a reputation for having a great culture are seen as great places to work, an organization others want to be a part of. Recruiting is already expensive, difficult, and risky. It becomes much cheaper, easier, and less speculative when you have prequalified candidates who want to work for your firm, are eager to do so, and actively coming to you.
Creating values statements delineates the work environment. Implementing values establishes behavioral norms. Inculcating staff to values creates culture. Actively embracing your company’s values in daily operations makes them real.
When the values of your company are clearly defined, you’ll have a template for the culture you need to create. With proper implementation and reinforcement, your culture will become self-sustaining. It will accept those who fit and reject those who don’t.
Does your business have its own values statements?
Are they being enforced, or joked about?
If you’re struggling to create, operationalize, or enforce your company values, let’s talk. I have four decades of helping organizations develop values and make them real. Send an email or call (916.798.0600) and let’s a schedule the time.