Core values in a business lay the groundwork for office culture by providing context to the vision and goals for the company. Having a unified sense of values creates a common connection among employees because they see themselves fitting within the bigger picture. Values guide employee decisions and interactions with customers, leadership and stakeholders in the name of brand identity. All together, values shape actions, which feed our relationships and builds trust.
For IQ Total Source, our WISE philosophy and other programs are built around our core values:
Yes We Canners (Attitude)
As a team, we tackle challenges with a “Yes We Can” attitude. Solutions emerge when we put our heads together, and our team can quickly develop a vision in what others deem impossible. In never taking the easy way out, we seek the best solution and incorporate technology whenever possible.
Glass Half-Fullers (Personality)
Open-minded and positive, we’re a happy team always asking questions and learning new things. Problems are seen as challenges to improve our team, our customer service and ourselves. Having fun and sharing ideas is an integral part of our culture, which quickly spreads smiles to customers and coworkers.
WISE Deciders (Empathy & Ethics)
Decisions affect everyone, and working together with customers helps us understand how decisions are received. We take time to place ourselves in the customer’s shoes so that we pick the right approach to challenges. Guided by ethical decision-making, we dedicate our efforts to satisfying our team’s and each customer’s needs.
Professional Movers and Shakers (Work Style)
Getting things done is the name of the game, and we make it happen swiftly and accurately. We know the details matter, which motivates us to exceed our goals and deliver wildly insane service with a professional touch. We aim to raise the bar by accounting for our actions and proactively responding to needs.
Challenge Seekers and Big Thinkers (Lifestyle)
Always hungry for knowledge, we actively take part in personal and professional development. Challenges are welcomed with open arms, and we use these opportunities to build our company and customer relationships. We challenge tradition, see learning as fun, and constantly seek new ways to feed our curiosity.
As you can see by our values, we aim to practice what we preach while understanding that we always have something to learn. Without these values, we can neither accomplish our company goals nor meet our customers’ needs.
Has your company developed a set of core values? Here are a few tips to keep in mind before setting yourself up for false promises:
Say what you mean, and mean what you say
Core values are fixed despite external and internal influences. Take a step back and examine which values really set your company apart from competitors, and which ones remain unchanged over time. Does the office culture stand up to that list and can you name examples where these values create a sense of unity? Follow through on promises, and you’ll create an atmosphere of trust and confidence that both customers and employees can stand behind.
Values should represent tried-and-true actions, not what-ifs
Be careful naming values based on how you would like to see the company instead of timeless values your employees already exhibit. A vision for growth is valuable, but setting unrealistic values can result in embarrassment. If you can’t stand the pain or the work in sticking to these values, then don’t set any. Start with what’s working, and be patient, yet persistent, to stretch into more.
Let your strengths shine through
If office culture isn’t quite where you imagine, start by changing the way you talk about your goals and vision for the company, and listen to your customers and employees. Simply taking a different approach can reveal strengths otherwise taken for granted, along with gaps that may need extra work. A little fine-tuning can really set the stage for the company’s strengths.