Values ​​in the workplace

What are workplace values ​​and why are they important?

To answer this, we must start with a definition of corporate values. Corporate values ​​can be defined in the same way that we define individual values:

A corporate value is an abstract concept that a corporation is willing to adopt at the expense of corporate comfort.

Essentially, corporations establish their values ​​with the expectation that their leaders model the values ​​and their employees understand the value system and use the values ​​as a vehicle to travel toward the mission and vision of the company. In doing so, they must ensure that the values ​​they choose are actually the values ​​that will be modeled in each circumstance. Any deviation from these values ​​by the company’s leadership can have serious short- and long-term implications.

Basically, the corporation’s values ​​are its very foundation.

Companies that have shared values ​​that are consistently modeled within the organization result in:

• Employees focused on what is important to the organization.
• Less stress on people
• Less tension between individuals and departments
• Enthusiasm in the workplace
• Pride at work
• Address in the workplace
• Less bureaucracy
• Positive attitudes
• Positive momentum

You don’t have to look too far to find examples of companies that were not properly aligned around a value system and paid the price in the market;

• WorldCom
• Enron
• Bre-X

Fortunately, there are many examples of companies that have been built around their values;

• Disney
• House deposit
• Walmart
• Starbucks

According to William C. Taylor and Polly LaBarre in their book Mavericks at Work, companies should use values ​​to help define a corporate purpose because “High values ​​can drive cutting edge corporate performance.“.

They continued saying that “Great companies are built on genuine passion, in addition to a daily commitment to excellent execution. Employees will not feel the passion and will not be able to maintain operational discipline unless they feel good about what the company sells and the values ​​it represents.. “

I recently heard of an excellent example of this from a friend of mine. He told me that they had a customer calling their call center and that he was very harsh and abusive to the staff he was talking to. As a result, several staff members refused to speak to this customer when he called. On one occasion, this customer called for technical assistance and was so abusive on the phone that the customer service representative began to cry.

My friend is the head of this customer service group and he told me that his company values ​​its employees and that they declare it as one of the company’s values. When he realized this situation and the fact that it had been going on for some time, he arranged a meeting with this abusive customer and returned the money for his customer service contract and told him that he did not want it. as a customer for a longer time.

This is a great example of a company and its leadership modeling the values ​​it declares. Many other companies would value revenue more than employees and would try to find ways to keep this abusive customer at the expense of their employees and their own reputation.

Employees take immediate notice when the positive actions of the corporation align with established corporate values. This provides positive energy and motivation to employees.

William C. Taylor and Polly LaBarre go on to say that … But they {big enterprises} Understand that what it means to be great has to do with values ​​as well as virtuosity, as well as what motivates people. {individual’s strength zone} as how much they know. cast … the most powerful way to create economic value is to embrace a set of values ​​that go beyond the simple accumulation of power, and that business, at its best, is too exciting, too important, and too fun to leave in Hands off the dead hand of business as usual. (The text in brackets is my insert).

John C. Maxwell takes this concept a step further and indicates that in today’s high-paced, high-stress, high-stakes world, ONLY companies that are firmly grounded in a value system that is properly modeled and adhered to can succeed. He stated;

The only way to increase speed and stay on track is for everyone to know and live the company values. John C. Maxwell

So we can see that it is extremely important for leadership in an organization to always model the values ​​they declare. If you don’t, employees will lose confidence in the organization and its leadership. As Ralph Waldo Emerson says’Your actions speak so loud that I can’t hear what you say“.

This alignment around corporate values ​​enables employees and the corporation as a whole to move towards achieving its goals using an agreed and consistent vehicle for their progress: this vehicle is corporate values.

Be sure to register at www.strengthzone.ca and get the free Values ​​Strength Zone® online profile.