Business values are more than a buzzword. It takes some conviction and intention to harbour them. One of the concrete ways you can tell if you’re doing right by this is to examine your company culture. Leaders that are looked up to and the companies they run will have visions that are nurtured every single day. The values they have will promote that vision every step of the way.
The actions to take include:
- Living their values.
- Staying responsible for those values every single day.
- Creating the culture within the company that reflects the values.
- Constantly thinking bigger than they already are. Be wide open for growth.
- Listening to all voices to get insight from every direction. They aren’t afraid to take criticism.
- Willing to learn from others and don’t think they know everything.
- They should constantly be aware of the partnerships and relationships that are going on their company culture.
- They should be willing to sacrifice and make compromises.
- Be kind to the people around you. This is a huge part of creating that company culture.
It’s not easy to hone these skills because it take some vulnerability, which might be misconstrued as weakness, which it’s not. It also takes flexibility and the ability to accept others no matter what. You also have to take time and dedication to foster your values. The core values you have should be ones you uphold no matter what. These values are the ones that create a solid foundation for the company, the people, and the customers.
Stand By Your Non-Negotiables
If you really care about something, make it a part of your company values. This could be anything. There is one company that takes a stand on gay rights and marriage. This has caused some clients to reject them, but they won’t stop standing for what they believe in. Even if a company doesn’t stand for your values, that doesn’t mean you boycott them and take a violent stand. To support another company even if they don’t support your values shows your ability to be flexible. You can learn something from them and find out what your own values are.
Beware of the Faux Integrity
Without flexibility, you really can’t have integrity. When you refuse to consider exceptions and use that stubbornness to stop you from accepting someone who disagrees, your organization goes nowhere. Some people might think they have integrity and truth, thereby living their values. Non-negotiables are not meant to exclude other people out because they don’t agree with you. It’s an act of righteousness to be right, and it has nothing to do with true integrity.
Right and Wrong and Values
Right and wrong can change even when your values stay the same. You’re going to have people opposing you and they may even want to take you down. Remember that their stuff isn’t about you. For every positive, there is a negative. If doesn’t matter what you believe in and what your company stands for, someone is going to fight against you. When you’re looking to protect your values, it’s about doing the right thing.
What you think is right may not be what others believe. When it comes to owning your own business, the right thing might be to be efficient and do things right so you don’t need as much staff. When you become more efficient, you may be forced to deal with the fact you don’t need as much staff anymore. What if your values are to make money and protect the people who work under you? These may contradict themselves. Give your employees plenty of notice and let them know you will give them an excellent reference.
Being True to Who You Are
Keeping your obligations to your values means keeping them to your company and to your employees. It’s not easy, it can cost you more and it can be messy. You might think you’re doing good by hiring locals but it might cost you way more than if you were to hire someone from another country. It’s all about being authentic. This is going to benefit you more than you know when it comes to your business. People will notice and they will appreciate your authenticity.
A few more tips to stay real include:
Saying no when it doesn’t fit the values you have.
Keep doing what you believe in despite what any naysayers might say. Let them attack you and let the economy change around you. This kind of steadfastness creates a solid foundation for people in the eye of the storm.
Keep being the leader that you are and stretch past what you know. There is always something more to be learned.
Be honest, don’t mess around with politics and don’t engage in hidden agendas. Know what you stand for and don’t falter on maintaining that.
These tips should help you create a very important company culture. Your employees will sing your praises. A satisfied employee is going to be willing to go above and beyond for you. This will create a well-balanced ship and work productivity will be greater. Customers will notice the vibration of your company and it will create loyalty. You don’t have to worry about a client being mistreated by a disgruntled employee. It’s also fun for you to run a business that stands behind something. It creates a passion in you and everyone involved.
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