Core values define an organization and what it stands for. Core values also help determine how an organization spends its money and time. When core values are executed properly by the management, it plays an essential role in keeping excellent employees. It also helps the management make good decisions during challenging times, prioritize resources, reduce internal conflict, and attract customers.
Employees need to internalize these core values and integrate them into the company culture for them to have a significant impact. Here's how you can take your business into the core of your values.
Develop clear values that everyone can understand.
Values may not always make use of language that everyone can easily understand. Values have to be expressed in a clear and simple manner that everyone can remember. Go for concrete language that your team can relate to. Your values should also clearly state what the company cares about.
Do not generalize.
Companies often create generalized concepts that can be interpreted by people in different ways. If you want your workers to live your company's values, then make sure they are specific and actionable.
Look for individuals with similar values.
Be sure to develop questions for each of your values. Ask these questions to job applicants and choose the ones whose values are similar to yours. For instance, if humility is one of your values, do not hire a person who appears arrogant or egotistical. You want a person who can easily fit into the organization.
Get feedback from employees.
Find out what your employees think about these values. Do they know what the values stand for? Is the management fostering these values? Are there daily practices or conflicts that contradict these values?
Enforce values all throughout the organization.
Everyone needs to imbibe these values, whether he or she is a manager or a clerk or the vice president.
Empower employees with the use of your core values.
The company's values can guide employees in making use of their judgment when making decisions. It is just impossible to develop a rule for everything, so educating workers with the company's values will help them make good decisions wherever they may be.
Promote your company's values regularly.
Once values are made and posted somewhere in the office, they are no longer remembered except perhaps during company gatherings. Grab each chance to promote these values so that they will remain alive in the minds and hearts of your employees.
Set an example.
You and your management team should live the values in whatever you do. People will remain skeptical about your corporate values if you merely say the words but never apply them. It's how you behave that will gain the respect of people.
Uphold your values at all times.
What your organization does during difficult times is more important than what it does when everything is okay. Uphold your values even when your company is in a tough situation. Take responsibility when you make mistakes and apologize.
Take note of minor errors.
Small mistakes can affect a company culture and eventually lead to failure. Everyone needs to respect the standards and not allow violation of standards to become the norm. Even when it comes to sales such as custom products like tents, taking charge of errors is a must.
Show leadership.
Manage your behavior. Remember that you have full control of how you handle your customers and employees. Always show leadership, and your good behavior might just spread to others.
Establishing company values benefit not only your organization, but also your customers and even the community. Businesses that have strong values are also able to keep their best employees. Then again, values will only have a positive impact if people live by them on a daily basis.
This post is courtesy of MVP Visuals.