Define your organization’s foundation and direction
By Mike Byrnes
Core values provide a foundation for decision-making and behavior, guiding individuals and organizations toward consistent actions aligned with their beliefs. They foster trust, unity and a clear sense of purpose, helping to create a positive and productive environment.
Traits of impactful core values:
- They are the foundation for the mission.
- They help a business reach its strategic goals.
- They should be stated for the long term.
- These values can be differentiators for your business.
- They shouldn’t just be abstract thoughts. The values should be put into practice every day. If the values are not the backbone of the organization, they should be revised.
- When communicated from the top down, core values help define the company’s culture.
- They can serve as barometers for how employees are compensated.
- The business plan should include management support and routine reinforcement of the core values.
One great way to define an organization’s core values is through its employees. Ask them what their personal core values are. Then try to roll them all up into categories. This exercise can help shape what an organization is all about. Once core values are defined, make sure that potential new employees are the right fit, by doing a work-related personality test.
Another tip is to survey clients about core values. Ask what they believe are the core values of their main contact(s) and/or the overall business. Give their input serious consideration when creating or refining core values.
Learn more about Byrnes Consulting’s core values.
Need help defining your core values? Need a facilitator to run an offsite planning meeting? Hire Byrnes Consulting to help!
