How
many people do you know that are unhappy in their jobs, unhappy with their
current employer, unhappy with their leadership team, and/or looking for
another job? The recent percentages will
astound you.
Over the past few years, team members have experienced reduction
of staff, budgets slashed, and seen their workload increase dramatically (with
very little or no recognition). Numerous
individuals have contacted me this year to inquire about looking for a new job due
to frustration with their current employers. There is clearly an issue with
leadership in the American workplace.
It is time for companies to get their act together and get back to
basics. Establishing the company Vision
is where to start so team members understand why the company is in existence.
Next, it is up to the leadership team to define the how. This is where Core
Values come into play.
Core Values are the foundation of the company and how it will conduct
business on a daily basis. They define
the culture, direction, and the strategy to fulfill the company Vision. Without established Core Values, decisions are
made based upon emotions, circumstances, and social pressures rather than on
what the company really stands for.
All
team members, including leadership, must also be aware of their own personal
Core Values and determine if they align with the company’s Core Values. When personal Core Values and company Core
Values are out of alignment, cracks in the company foundation will eventually
show.
When
establishing company Core Values, keep these questions in mind:
ü Are
you willing to fire your top sales team member to uphold Core Values?
ü Are
you willing to turn away a client to uphold a Core Value?
ü Are
you willing to accept smaller margins to uphold core values?
ü Are
you willing to publish your Core Values for all to see?
If
answered “no” to any of these questions, then there is more work to do.
Having
established Core Values are necessary to develop strategies and a culture that support
the company Vision. They need to be part
of everything that the company engages from hiring team members and partnering
with vendors to determining what clients the company will work with, and
everything in between.
Here
are examples of just a few Core Values that are published on company websites:
ü Zappos: “Embrace and drive change”, “Create fun and a
little weirdness”, “Do more with less”, etc.
ü Whole Foods: “Supporting team member excellence and
happiness”, “Caring about our communities and our environments”, Creating
ongoing win-win partnerships with our suppliers”, etc.
ü Tyson: “We strive to be a company of diverse
people”, “We serve as stewards of the animals,
land, and environment entrusted to us”, “We strive to operate with integrity
and trust in all we do”, etc.
Take
a look at these companies. Each company
is very successful, created a distinct culture, keeps a satisfied customer base,
and has happy team members.
Without
established Core Values, the company is a ship lost at sea drifting any
direction the wind blows. Is that really
any way to run a business? It is time to
get back to basics and establish the company Core Values. The choice is yours.
"Effectiveness without values is a tool without
a purpose." ~Edward
de Bono
