American Flag over the Arizona Memorial by Eric and Mary Ellen on Flickr Creative Commons
As we celebrate Independence Day I am reminded about the values that make our country great. Independence is obviously at the top of the list. Freedom of expression, liberty, the right to pursue our happiness…these are all a set of guiding values that have made our country a wonderful place to live, work and grow.
Values can be a powerful force in any organization, whether an entire country, a club or a business. Numerous studies have shown the benefits of use of values. Benefits can include improved employee performance and higher levels of job satisfaction.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself about the values in your business:
So what values make your business great? Innovation? Commitment to client success? Mutual trust? Transparency?
Are these values real? True values get a reaction. If there is no reaction then they are just words to you. I encourage clients to use the “foot test.” Like a foot, real values will feel good when elevated, and get us unhappy when stepped on.
Does anyone know? For organizations (and also for individuals I coach) it is important to bring values out into the light. Make them visible. Make them a part of the conversation. Make them a part of your marketing story. Make them a part of your decision-making process. Don’t let them just be the bullet points on a poster.
Have a Happy Fourth of July as we honor the values that have made us great.
Recent Comments