Many organisations have a set of value statements. They might even tell you proudly ‘yes, we’ve done our values’, or ‘we wrote them last year’. But are these values making a difference everyday on culture and performance? And if so, how and what do these values really mean? Can we measure their impact on organisational success? 

What are organisational values? 

Most will agree that a set of values defines ‘what we most hold dear’. Unfortunately for many organisations that’s where their set of values starts and stops. The values sit in a document or are even displayed on a wall, but don’t live beyond that and translate into everyday behaviours. Organisation values can have tremendous influence but this impact will only be fully realised if they guide and shape behaviours, the decisions that are made and how they are made, and are seen every day in the culture of the organisation – “how things are done around here”. 

Brene Brown describes this embedding of values into behaviours as ‘walking the talk’. Her research that found only about 10% of organisations have operationalized their values into teachable and observable behaviours which are then used to hold people accountable. (ref)?? If values do not translate into behaviours which are visible and can be measured then what purpose do they serve? To invest heavily in time to develop statements of values and then fail to bring them to life everyday is a wasted opportunity and a risk of a negative impact on culture through increased cynicism. Finding ways to bring these values to life is a powerful way to create a great place to work that delivers great results.  

Moving From Espoused Values To Embedded Values 

So how do you move from a set of espoused, on a coffee mug values, to ones which really set the tone and define how we turn up, treat each other, and really believe in around here? At Steople, when working with clients who are focussing on their organisational culture or values we often ask questions like ‘do your employees know what’s expected of them in terms of behaviours?’, ‘How have you used your organisation values to shape the way decisions are made?’’ how is this reflected in the way you interact with your customers or clients?’  By asking these kinds of questions we are exploring the extent to which the organisational values are embedded in the behaviours of all who work there. It is through this embedding of values that the real impact is achieved and the values become purposeful. 

How Values Can Define A Thriving Culture 

Simon Sinek says, “When the things you say and the things you do are in alignment with what you actually believe, a thriving culture emerges. Moving values off the wall and into the everyday actions of the team is the easiest and most inspiring way to build a values-based organization.” 

If you are serious about your organisational values then you need to find a way to operationalise them and measure them. The old adage ‘what gets measured gets done’ applies to organisational values as much as it does to tasks. You just have to find creative ways to measure how your organisational values are being demonstrated and keep them ‘alive’. 

Keeping Values ‘Alive’ 

At Steople, we take our values seriously and seek to reflect them in everything we do. Our values are something we proudly share with clients, when we are looking for new people to join our team and in what we pause to explore or celebrate. Our commitment to being authentic, finding the fun, having courage, making a difference and creating trust is at the heart of who we are. 

On a quarterly basis our team across the globe are asked to nominate someone they know really demonstrates and lives our values. In this fun yet focused way we ‘walk the talk’ and make sure we celebrate the great values behaviours we see every day. The participation in this is wonderful with moving affirmations coming in every quarter in droves and creates an opportunity for us to pause, be grateful, acknowledge and celebrate our values in action. The winner gets a special treat – a family dinner out, a massage – and the much loved Steople superhero values trophy wings its way to them wherever they are in the world. Though the trophy has suffered some from their travels across the globe from office to office, the sentiment which it represents is what matters most. And what do we see in return for all of this? A culture that aligns with our values and a frame for how we work and what is most important for our business to thrive. 

Making Values Matter 

Organisational values can and should shape the culture and the behaviours of those within the organisation. They should be evident in everything you do and how you go about doing it. Well developed values which are embedded in the fabric of the organisation can send a powerful and positive message to clients and customers. Values which are wall posters or forgotten aspirations won’t deliver any impact. What is the status of your organisation’s values? Valuable? Or Value-less?

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