WHY CORE VALUES MATTER

Values are more important than anything else when selecting team members. While having different skills and ideas brings strength to a team, it is imperative that the team shares the same values.

Are you clear about what you value? If you know your core values and stand behind them, you can set goals with confidence. Your values will help you with your WHY. Moreover, your why is much more important than your how. How many businesses can say why they are in business or articulate their basic business foundation? You might be surprised at how few really can.

Any successful business needs to have vision—that is what the business will look like when it is successful. Your vision is your dream. You must have a dream if you want to have a dream to come true. Your core values are of greater importance than vision. These are the ideals that you live by. These are your non negotiables. If you know why you are in business, if you have a vision, and you have values you may then build your marketing plan and you will know how to make the right decisions. If your vision and values are clear to your staff, then then they too will make the right decisions.

A good leader leads by making the organization’s vision known to the entire team. But it is the leader’s commitment to values and living the values that makes the greatest impact.

For example, when I heard the news about a restaurant chain which had a problem with the state liquor authority, I knew that the problem was one of values. The liquor authority had targeted a chain of restaurants for pouring house liquor into top brand bottles. An official from the restaurant company reacted with shock that this had happened in his company. He really should not have been shocked.

If you do not make crystal clear your values and ethics to your team but only hold them accountable for profits, then some may feel justified in taking short cuts.

Your vision and especially your values should be out front and everywhere. In another case, a certain bank has a great reputation with the community and its customers. I went into their offices and do you know what I saw? Everywhere I looked I saw their core beliefs in their documents, their posters and even engraved on the glass separating the offices. Although they are highly profitable is it also any surprise that they are held in high regard? Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s had core beliefs that could be recited by every executive down to every crew member in each restaurant. “Do the Right Thing” was just one of Dave’s sayings.

Here is where leadership comes in. A great leader shares the vision and the values. Goals and objectives can then follow. Although results are very important, the team knows that in deciding on the right action they must always “Do the Right Thing.”

Are your core values clear and is everyone aligned to them?

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