Uncovering Organizational Core Values
Leadership Workshop (2 of 12) - Align the Core Values
Leading at Light Speed is an excellent leadership book by Eric Douglas showing you step-by-step how to implement 10 Quantum Leaps that build trust, spark innovation, and create a high-performing organization.
Chapter One of Leading at Light Speed is all about discovering core values.
An organization’s core values may be identified in many ways. What steps should you take? What are the beginning actions for the process? A good way to begin developing core values is to consider a questions like: “When acting in the best interest of this organization, what can be done to effect success?” This is the essence of John Rawls’ “neutral man” standard, which he articulated in his groundbreaking book A Theory of Justice. Clarity is crucial when considering core values. To facilitate this, there are at least seven core purposes that companies need to seek out.
Sustainability.
Associate Success.
Conscientious Honesty.
Reliability.
Product Satisfaction.
Safety.
Impact Analysis.
Why these seven? Reliability and customer service are clear goals, since these are keystones to bringing and keeping customers, regardless of product or service offered. Ethics and integrity are absolutely necessary. Given the transparency revolution, companies simply risk too much by not behaving ethically. Attracting and retaining talented people is also essential. Consistent high levels in any organization depend on attracting them. Retaining them enables an organization to build a culture of excellence (and avoid the inevitable costs when talented people walk out the door). Maintaining safety is stressed by many companies in order to ensure success. Environmental impact is currently seen by many organizations to be a core value, partly due to its moral and ethical aspects, but also as a catalyst to customer loyalty.. and the final element is financial sustainability.. Without financial resources, the enterprise cannot function.
In short, these core values encompass what is essential to the success of virtually every type of organization. By exploring all of them, you can be sure that you’ve left no stone unturned. This is just the preparation, however.. You must develop the details surrounding each core value, including the behaviors (what I refer to as the “we statements”) that support each core value. You also have to peg the core values to a scorecard, so you can measure whether they’re being achieved.
Take this free work survey to discover how well your company measures up to the 10 Quantum Leaps.