As a business owner, no matter what your industry is, your own personal core values probably carry over to the workplace. Core values help define who you are and serve as a guide for your behavior and the choices you make—in both your professional and personal life. Here are some tips to help you identify your core values and implement them in your business.
As a business owner, you set the example for all of your employees
Any business only is as good as the members of its staff. Businesses that excel go beyond just providing goods and services; staff members who succeed function as a team. Consider holding a team meeting. At this meeting, revisit the vision and purpose you have for your business. Make it collaborative, by allowing each member of your team to share his or her own core values. By identifying the core values of your employees, you can work together with your team members to develop a workplace culture that takes into account your shared values. This will make your employees more invested in your business, and likely will improve their job satisfaction.
Running a business is difficult, and core values provide guidance when things get difficult
Core values should represent the essence and spirit of any organization. If you run a dental practice, for example, then your values are used to guide the principles, beliefs, and philosophy that are used as a basis for operation. Those who own a business in the healthcare field feel an additional duty to adhere to their values so that each patient is treated with compassion, honesty, and integrity, while the best efforts of your team and technology are made to provide the highest level of care.
Giving your team members a voice will give them a sense of meaning and purpose
Most business owners think they should operate as a hierarchy—with the owner or supervisor giving directions that are carried out by employees. In the name of team building, however, creating a wholearchical structure should be the goal. In a wholearchy, each member of the team feels valued, respected, and has input. Members of the team feel as if they are equals, fostering a greater sense of engagement and a work culture that is compassionate, inclusive, and highly professional. As a business owner, it falls to you to get your team members to “buy in” to these values so that they can be adopted.
Experts have studied wholearchies and identified certain core values that are present in many of them. These values include safety (both for employees and clients), producing high-quality work, being accountable, promoting a work-life balance, a willingness to contribute to society, empowerment in the decision-making process, an appreciation of diversity, and promoting an innovative environment where team members are encouraged to contribute new ideas.
Identifying the core values for your company can be difficult—but is crucial
Values cannot be chosen at random. They are different from the protocols or guidelines used during treatments or interactions with clients. Instead, values are the driving force behind what your business does. A good value should endure, and uphold its validity even if the business closed, or you were able to retire after coming into a huge sum of money.
Having trouble identifying the values that matter to you, or implementing them in your workplace? If so, why not get some professional help from Bryant Consultants. We can help you form the value-driven culture in your workplace that will build a strong team and take your business to the next level. Contact us by calling (877) 768-4799.
We provide consultation, training, and coaching to help improve the operations of your business so that you can provide exceptional results to your customers. No office is out of reach for us; we will even come to you!
