Values As A Window Into Your Organization
/The Importance of Clearly Defined Values for Your Team
To explain the importance of having clearly defined values for your team, I’d like to invite you to imagine walking down the street of your downtown and looking at each of the store and restaurant windows as you pass. What does each window tell you about the service and atmosphere you would experience if you stepped in?
Imagine you first come across a dollar store, disheveled, brightly lit and piled high and tight with mostly low-priced household items and children’s trinkets. By simply walking by you build an impression of efficiency, affordability, and a no-frills approach. Next is the furniture store with a warm, smoky look, displaying wood, leather, and glass furniture. You might anticipate a more personalized shopping experience, where staff are eager to assist and provide detailed product and builder information. Then there is a ladies' clothing store that has a bright, airy feel and tall, slim mannequins displaying summer dresses and formal wear. You likely would expect attentive service, with staff ready to help its clients find the perfect, potentially bespoke outfit.
Whether you are an interested customer or not, as you walk by and each window shares the store's identity, your mind is busy evaluating a wealth of information and coming to conclusions about each stores values and brand promise. Just from these store windows and a moments worth of visual information, you would build a set of expectations how you would be greeted, and if you would experience personalized one-on-one service or be left alone to gather any items you want and use self-checkout… or something in-between if you were to step inside.
Just as these stores use their windows to set expectations, your organization’s values shape the culture, behaviour and expectations within your team or organization. When values are clearly defined, fully understood and embraced by your team, they will guide decision-making processes and influence how team members will interact with each other, with suppliers and with clients. And, when other coworkers, suppliers or customers engage with someone from your team, your shared values quickly communicate what your team stand for, how you operate, and what kind of experience they should expect. Your team or organization values also help attract like-minded individuals who share the same principles.
Conclusion
Values create a strong team and organizational identity… a reputation. Don’t underestimate the importance of investing the time to develop these values with your team and then actively use and promote them to continuously support your culture and brand promise.
Thank you for reading our ‘Values As A Window Into Your Organization’. I look forward to hearing from you if you have any questions.
Bruce
Other articles in this series include:
About Bruce and Bruce Mayhew Consulting.
Bruce is Corporate Trainer, Keynote Speaker and Executive Coach.
Bruce Mayhew Consulting specializes in customized Difficult Conversations, Crucial Conversations or Conflict Management Training, Email Etiquette Training, Leadership & New Leadership Development, Generational Differences, Time Management Training and other soft skills training solutions in Toronto and across Canada. Bruce is also an Executive Coach to a few select clients.
Bruce is an experienced motivational speaker in Toronto and has inspired audiences across Canada and within the USA and the UK. Bruce works hard to always make sure your training event, conference, retreat, or annual general meeting is a success.
