What Do You Value???

This week I had the opportunity to work with a client on developing the organizational values. It was an amazing experience to facilitate and watch a diverse group of individuals come together, and in a very short time identify and define their top values.

In the book by James Collins and Jerry I. Porras, Built to Last; Successful Habits of Visionary Companies , the authors stress the importance of developing three to six core values. Core values are defined as "the organization's essential and enduring tenets-a small set of general guiding principles; not to be confused with specific cultural or operating practices; not to be compromised for financial gain or short-term expediency (Collins and Porras)".

Research has revealed when a congruence exists between individual and organizational values there is a significant payoff for leaders as follows (Kouzes and Posner):
-Their revenue grew more than four times faster.
-Their rate of job creation was seven times higher.
-Their stock prices grew twelve times faster
-Their profit performance was 750% higher.

It is evident that clearly articulating values is critical to an organization's success. However, there is more to identifying and defining values. The organization must also communicate and live those values on a consistent and ongoing basis. Ultimately, every decision is measured against those very values.

In closing, Visionary Company's do not ask, "What should we value?" But instead, "What do we actually value deep down to our toes (Collins and Porras)?"

What does your organization value deep down to its toes?