Making Sense of Company Values: Why Shared Ones Matter

As I’ve been visiting different offices all around the country, I have been seeing a big trend:

When it comes to creating a successful business, shared values are essential.

When I first start working with a team, one of my first questions to them is “What are your company’s CORE Values?” After all, shared work values can make or break a workplace. But why do shared values matter more than personal ones? And how can businesses use shared values to achieve their goals? Today I want to invite you to take a closer look at the importance of shared work values and how shared values can trump even personal values in a workspace with me.

The concept of shared work values is simple – shared values refer to the beliefs, principles, and standards shared by employees in an organization. These shared values can be anything from commitment to excellence or customer service to collaboration, teamwork, and creativity. Shared work values are not necessarily shared political or social values – they are more a shared understanding of how people should behave in the workplace. In short, shared work values help to create a shared vision for the workplace.

Shared work values are important because they provide employees with direction and motivation. When everyone in an organization is working towards shared goals, it encourages collaboration and encourages employees to strive for greatness. Shared work values also create a shared sense of purpose, which can help to strengthen the bond between employees and create a more cohesive workplace.

Companies can use shared values in several ways. First, shared work values can be used to set employees’ goals and expectations. For example, if the shared value of the company is “commitment to excellence”, employees will know that anything less than their best work won’t be tolerated.

Second, shared values can provide employees with a sense of security and belonging. When everyone in an organization shares the same values, it helps to create a sense of unity and shared purpose. This shared sense of purpose can help to create a strong team and foster an atmosphere of collaboration, which is essential for success in any business.

Finally, shared values can be used to attract and retain talent. When potential employees see that your company has shared work values they believe in, it can make them more likely to want to work for you and stay with your company in the long term.

But Dino, where do we start?

Creating shared work values in the workplace doesn’t have to be complicated. First, it’s important to identify what shared values are most important to you and your company. This can include things like a commitment to excellence, collaboration, customer service, respect for others, and so on. Once you’ve identified your core company values, it’s important to make sure everyone in the organization is aware of them and understands how they can help create a successful workplace. This can include things like regular training sessions, workshops, or even just having conversations with employees about shared work values. Finally, it’s important to lead by example and demonstrate shared work values in your own behavior. If you’re committed to the shared values, everyone else will be too!

I promise that if you foster shared work values in your workplace, you’ll see amazing results. A shared sense of purpose can create a cohesive team and help to drive success. So I challenge you to take some time to identify shared work values that are important for your company, educate your employees about them, and lead by example. With shared work values, you can achieve incredible things!

Proactive, Productive and Profitable,

Dino Watt