When you're looking to improve your company's culture, one of the things you should focus on is its core values. These are sets of principles that guide how a company operates within and towards its customers.
Although having core values in your workplace is commendable, knowing what to do to ensure that they are in the minds of your employees and customers is even better.
In this guide, you'll discover how to effectively promote core values in the workplace. We'll define what workplace core values are, their importance, and how you can create them. We'll also take a look at some examples of workplace core values that are in use and are effective.
Whether you own a company or you're an employee, this guide will be of great benefit to you. Without further ado, let's dive in.
What are workplace core values?
Workplace core values are simply principles that guide the culture, behavior, and decision-making processes of a company or organization.They serve as a compass that determines the identity and practices of a company. They also reflect the shared beliefs and principles that define the way employees carry out activities within the company.
Simon Sinek, an English author and inspirational speaker, emphasizes the importance of core values, stating that "core values are the guiding principles that dictate behavior and action. They can help companies in decision-making, aligning actions with beliefs, and creating a cohesive work environment."
In essence, well-defined core values, if and when accepted, will have a huge impact on the culture in a workplace.
The importance of Core Values in the Workplace
Core values prove to be potent in guiding the affairs and practices of companies. Here are four reasons why having core values is important in your workplace:1. It gives your company focus
Core values, as stated earlier, are like a compass that gives direction to everyone connected to your company—employees, stakeholders, and customers.They help reduce the noise in the industry by giving your company an exact focus. In doing so, they'll clearly inform everyone of what they should expect from your company.
According to the words of Tony Hsieh, the late CEO of Zappos, "Your personal core values defines who you are, and a company's core values ultimately define the company's character and brand."
When you and your employees incorporate these values, it becomes easier to align your focus in a common direction.
2. It promotes unity
Individuals with the same values are able to work together in unity, and the same goes for your company. When your employees know what the company's core values are, they can work together within the scope of the values to achieve their set goals.Collaboration in your workplace will flow naturally when everyone is on the same page as the core values.
3. It provides clarity in making decisions
The decisions you make for your company directly affect its activities. When you have sets of core values, they can give clarity to the way you make decisions.For instance, if one of your core values is "Excellence," it means that every product or service that your company offers must be at its best, or else they'll either be discarded or redone until they meet the standard.
These values will be your standard by which you measure the efficacy of the decisions you make.
4. It educates your customers
Very clear core values have a way of educating your customers about what you stand for without you saying it to them.According to Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo, "Your value as a business is not determined by revenue. It's determined by the values you instill in your team and the values you deliver to your customers."
In essence, your core values are there to inform your customers of what they are to expect and what to hold your company accountable for.
How to Create Workplace Core Values
Core values that influence a company's operations are carefully thought of and created. Their impacts can be positive or negative, depending on their content. For you to create action-oriented values that put your company in the best light, you should:1. Brainstorm with stakeholders
Your stakeholders should be involved in the creation of the values that guide the operations of your company. In the brainstorming process, you all should consider the values that you'll work by and why.It's important that you all provide answers to the content and reason for the core values you want to direct your company's affairs. When you and your stakeholders have been able to come to a resolution, bring the ideas to life—make it work!
2. Keep it simple
In the process of creating core values that guide the activities in your workplace, you should remember to keep it simple.In the words of Leonardo da Vinci, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
It is good enough that you and your stakeholders have been able to come up with some values. Unless they are simple and can easily be remembered, then your purpose is forfeited.
Many core values should be left as single-word or, at most, double-word phrases. It makes it easy to articulate and remember.
For instance, it's easier to remember "professionalism," "efficiency, or "high quality" as core values than "we put our customers first." So, keep them as simple as they can get.
3. Relate workplace goals to core values
The core values you choose should be able to express the company's goals.If part of your company's goals is to earn the trust of your customers while it exists, then you should consider "trustworthiness" as a core value.
As Idowu Koyenikan, a renowned author, points out, "The strength of your values affects the power of your goals."
As he would summarize, core values can directly or indirectly address and help fulfill your company's goals.
4. Incorporate customer opinion
In creating core values that will be valuable to your customers, considering their opinions matters.In the words of Bill Gates, founder of TerraPower and former CEO of Microsoft, "Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning."
By observing what your customers think about your company, you'll be able to make adjustments that best suit them. To further strengthen how important customer opinion counts in creating core values, Brian Bram, founder and CEO of Home Gym Strength, says it all:
“When you're creating your company's core values, it's important to incorporate the opinion of your customers. After all, they're the ones who are going to be most affected by them. Ask your customers what they think your company's core values should be. Then, make sure that those values are reflected in the way you run your business. That means putting customers first and always acting with integrity. If you can keep your customers happy and make them feel like they're a part of your company, you'll be well on your way to success."
Examples of Workplace Core Values
The core values that guide workplace activities differ among companies, as they are influenced by what the company stands for. Here are 15 common examples of workplace core values that are effective and in use:1. Integrity
2. Innovation
3. Respect
4. Responsibility
5. Sustainability
6. Aspiration
7. Audacity
8. Ambition
9. Tenacity
10. Patience
11. Genuine
12. Exceptional
13. Innovative
14. Involved
15. Professionalism
How to Promote Core Values in the Workplace
Having core values that guide the operations in your workplace is great, but what's even better is knowing exactly how to promote them. You can promote workplace core values by:1. Making workplace values visible
One effective way to promote your core values in the workplace is to make them as visible as possible. If you have a website for your company, you'll have to put it there so that your visitors know exactly what you stand for.There is no better way to constantly remind your employees and customers of what you stand for than to present your core values in the open, where they are easily seen.
2. Hiring based on core values
The workplace's core values should be seen in the hiring process. When you hire talent for your company, it should be based on your core values.They should know that your company stands for this and that, and it is on that basis that you recruit. It's easier for the new talents to go with the flow when their qualities align with your core values.
3. Training your employees
Offering your employees training is another way to promote your core values. In the training, they are re-educated on every core value of the company and possibly the reasons why it was created in the first place.This awareness helps your employees better understand how the company operates, what is expected of them, and how they can work in line with the values to fulfill company goals.
4. Recognizing and rewarding values
If you want to promote good behavior, offering rewards and recognition is a good place to start. By offering rewards to employees who take the company's core values seriously, you're simply motivating them to do better.You could reward them through different incentives like giving bonuses, time off, promotions, etc. Recognition is also important.
According to the research that Deloitte conducted in 2021, employee participation increased by 14% when their efforts were recognized and duly rewarded.
5. Leading by example
You and your senior management team are the evidence of your company's core values. If you want your employees to follow the core values in your workplace, you should show them by example.Let your activities be the expression of every core value that guides your company. When they see you do more than you speak, they'll follow suit.
Conclusion
Core values will remain vital in guiding what happens in your workplace. To make the values effective in accomplishing what they are meant to do, they'll have to be clear, simple, and visible.Always remember that action speaks louder than words, and that through your actions and those of your management team, your employees will know how to act in your footsteps.
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Leadership