Define what your brand stands for, its core values and tone of voice, and then communicate consistently in those terms.
~Simon Mainwaring

We often relate the term “value” to money. While profits and a company’s overall value are important, managers need to focus more on the values of their business. A business’s values should be created by its owner and top management with the conscious thought that these are building blocks for a company’s success. Good core values should be instilled from the start of an enterprise, as they help influence a company’s people, business systems, and vision.

As a company changes, its core values may change as well.

In the long run, adjusting core values can help fine-tune a company’s path to success, which contributes to its evolution. Clearly communicating your business’s core values to the employees will help them realize what the bigger picture entails, helping them establish an identity and find their place in the work environment. This will contribute to employees having a positive attitude, but there are other ways you can instill this in employees. For more on cultivating a positive attitude among employees, read the helpful article, 5 Keys to a Positive Attitude.

1. Integrity.
Great companies are built on a foundation of integrity, which inspires people to be honest, and to do the right thing, regardless of the circumstances. Employees who understand the importance of integrity know that they must do the right thing, even if it means that they must forego personal gains.

2. Innovation.
Encourage your team to think outside the box in all aspects of the business. While every organization encounters challenges big and small, not all companies have enough innovative spirit to overcome them and become stronger. How can you train your employees to value innovation? You can discuss obstacles with them, recognize best practices that have been developed by employees, and reward them.

3. Respect for the individual.
Employees are the most important asset of any company, and putting them at the focus of your core business values will help you move further. Let employees know that they are important by building a workplace that honors them. Your company manual of ethics should have a section that clearly defines rules to protect each individual—anti-harassment, anti-racism, and anti-bullying policies—and should provide employees with outlets for filing complaints; these are some ways you can instill this core value.

4. Win-win solutions.
Creating win-win solutions for clients and suppliers can easily catapult your business to success. Remember that the best partnerships benefit both parties; they’re not one-way streets. If you possess this core value, your company will be a favored partner, and this will be a major key to growth.

5. Be driven by strategy.
Regularly get everyone involved in planning for the future. There is always room for improvement, and to become successful you need to have a sound strategy in place for how to achieve that improvement. Involving everyone in this process can highlight obstacles or innovative ideas you might otherwise overlook. This will also help you create better systems, to help everyone work better, and to produce a better product or service consistently.

6. Adaptability.
While we can’t always predict everything, it’s best to be prepared. Successful businesses have embraced the value of adaptability, and have trained their teams to think this way. Adaptability is key to sustainability, and it promotes lifelong learning. It will help your team learn to innovate together to triumph over unexpected challenges.

7. Recognition.
Recognizing your employees for their achievements reinforces good employee morale, and in turn will encourage better performance. There are many ways to provide your employees with recognition, especially if you provide regular feedback for each individual during appraisal.

These are some core values to help you get started, and you’ll want to give key personnel input on your company’s core values, but as a leader, you can also define your own that are non-negotiable. Ask yourself what the absolute values are that will help you succeed, and prioritize those. Successful companies build core values around employees, efficiency, and integrity, so these should definitely be among your building blocks for success.

Why not leave a comment?