Values Matter
You’ve probably seen them. They are on a website or a poster in the hallway of the corporate headquarters. Most organizations have them. What is it? Values.
If you’ve seen these statements, you’ve probably seen the same words appear time and time again. Integrity, teamwork, innovation, customer-focus.
Values are the organization’s DNA. The operating system. They define the behavior that is seen in the organization in support of the organization’s purpose. Values are what makes an organization unique and differentiated.
In that organization, do you really see them? Is what is on the wall (or the website) what you see in the halls? Do companies really live up to their values? When corporate values are inauthentic, employees will become cynical and disengaged.
Clear, meaningful, authentic values contribute not only to employee engagement, but they also contribute to employee well-being.
When values are authentic and lived within an organization, they create workplaces that are psychologically safe, foster trust, and inclusion. This will create an environment where employees are committed to the purpose, feel supported, and where they can thrive.
