Today is World Values Day. For a business looking to build on its unique strengths, getting concrete on what the company values are is the life blood to grow your business.
To celebrate World Values Day, we discuss the importance of having clear distinct values in a modern business. Values are the life blood needed to grow your business. The values of a company are unique to each business. They send a message through the leadership of managers that empower and inspire team employees. They are a sign of what the company stands for and the specific solution it adds to the market place. Harnessing strong values at a mastery level also inspires customers that also share the same values. In fact, without knowing the clear values of your business, it is difficult to drive the company in the right direction.
Jim Colins—in his book Good-to-Great—researches how great companies stand above all others. The key distinction is that all the team—including customers, and suppliers—are all on the same path going in the right direction; forward. Your company is like a bus, and you are the driver. You have plenty of seats on that bus for your employees. It is your values that keep that bus going. If an employee becomes disengaged, they are starting to get off your bus and onto their own bus. It is the values and purpose that keeps them on your bus, and, encouraging it to go faster.
Now I come to think of it, why do we need a values day when values are actually a part of our everyday.
Everybody has values, it’s what makes us human-beings. The challenge with business is aligning everyones values to the company values. When the managers and staff know the values, they know how to act—not only to each other, but to your customers.
Now. If I were to ask the staff in your business what the company values are not many of them would be able to answer. I know this because I ask it all the time to hundreds of executives, managers, even directors in coaching and seminars. This is scary stuff! It demonstrates that the staff members—through no fault of their own—are not sharing the same mission or vision. So, how can they pitch your business?
Getting clear on your values, company values, and then aligning them with your employees basically comes down to one person… YOU!
No excuses.
It is important to grow your business for it to survive and thrive. Your consistent personal growth and development in leadership, business skills, and then staying accountable to them is your responsibility for the success of the company. The company is either growing or going.
Most often the business owner becomes unmotivated, distracted and unaccountable to this development. My clients in business coaching sessions (see Business Programmes Page) emphasise how keeping them accountable to their values is one of the single most important things that have grown their business profitability. Getting your values concrete and committing to growth could change your business too.
