Your core values matter more than ever

Your core values matter more than ever

Core values aren’t a new concept. Whether businesses were aware of it or not, they’ve been making decisions according to their values for decades.

The importance of core values has really come to the forefront though with the rise of the internet, increased access to information and the move by consumers to look for values that align with theirs particularly around issues of ethics, sustainability, and social responsibility.

That’s why they’re more important than ever. Companies that prioritise their values not only attract customers who share those values but also foster a positive workplace culture and attract top talent.

Before you pat yourself on the back because yours are proudly hanging on your office wall, ask yourself the question – when did I last intentionally use these values as a filter for decisions or my behaviour?

At Sudburys, we have our values on our wall and at every desk. You’ll find them on our website and across our client material. It can’t stop there though. Values cannot just be lip service. They must be the filter you put everything through. In the hunt for authenticity (particularly for Gen Zers and Millennials who make up the largest chunk of our workforce and have increasing spending power), people can very quickly judge whether your core values are exactly that, or simply a token effort.

Among the small ways we keep our core values at the forefront is our weekly 'values shout outs' – opportunities for our team to recognise each other living out our values by example. Every time we spot people putting our values in action, we give them a shout out in our weekly all team meeting.

One of our five company core values is ‘we do the right thing’. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve used this as a guidepost for making tough decisions or having awkward conversations. At the end of the day, I come back to what the ‘right thing’ to do in any given situation is. It hasn’t failed me yet.

Your clients and team – both current and prospective – are watching. They want to see that your actions line up with your values. Make sure they do.

If there’s a misalignment between your values and actions or your team can’t say what your company values are off the top of their head, it could be that you haven’t articulated your values well enough. Find out how to effectively communicate your values here or contact Diana Piggott if you’d like help putting your company values in action – diana@sudburys.co.nz.