Discovering Organizational Core Values

Leading at Light Speed is an excellent leadership book by Eric Douglas showing you step-by-step how to implement 10 Quantum Leaps that build trust, spark innovation, and create a high-performing organization.

Chapter One of Leading at Light Speed is all about discovering core values.

By what means can the core values of an organization be determined? What steps should you take? What are the beginning actions for the process? A good way to begin developing core values is to consider a questions like: “When acting in the best interest of this organization, what can be done to effect success?” This is the essence of John Rawls’ “neutral man” standard, which he articulated in his groundbreaking book A Theory of Justice. Clarity is crucial when considering core values. In order to simplify this, there are seven core values a company needs to analyze.

Sustainability.
Team Member Excellence.
Conscientious Honesty.
Reliability.
Customer Satisfaction.
Safety.
Environmental Policy.

Why these seven? Reliability and customer service are clear goals, since these are keystones to bringing and keeping customers, regardless of product or service offered. Ethics and integrity are absolutely necessary. By not behaving in an ethical manner, organization run a huge risk, because of the transparency revolution. Attracting and retaining talented people is also essential. Consistent high levels in any organization depend on attracting them. The inevitable financial and work flow costs associated with competent employee non-retention are one of the most important considerations when building an organizational culture of excellence. Safety is critical to success in many companies. And environmental protection is now seen by many companies to be a core value, both because it’s the right thing to do, and because ignoring one’s impacts on the environment can lead to customer backlash and financial ruin. and the final element is financial sustainability.. Without financial resources, the enterprise cannot function.

The success of virtually every type of organization is based on what these core values encompass.. To ensure all are completed, a full exploration is necessary.. However, this is only the beginning.. Each core value has features that need to be developed. These include practices known as “we statements”, supporting each essential purpose. You also have to peg the core values to a scorecard, so you can measure whether they’re being achieved.

Take this free work survey to discover how well your company measures up to the 10 Quantum Leaps.