A company’s values should be more than words explained to you on your first day, or even sometimes the words displayed on the wall. These are meant to hold true to the company’s output, employee work, and team efforts throughout the organization. They are built to be celebrated and embraced throughout the everyday actions of the employees. When an employee understands the company values, it fuels a strong culture and sets them up for success.
- What Do They Mean in Terms of Your Role?
Each person connects with values differently. The first step in understanding company values is to ask how each of them can play a role in your job specifically. For example, if Drive is a company value of yours, how are you bringing your own passion into the role you were hired to do? Manifestations of your values can be found in each and every employee, but understanding these parallels is what influences follow-through.
- Grasp the Actions Associated with the Values
These values were not just randomly picked—they took thoughtful consideration regarding how the organization wants to show up, and they play into the company’s mission and vision. With this, they can’t just be something that is said; they need to be acted upon. Pay attention to how those you work with embody these values. How are they acting on them? Recognizing these moments opens a door to more and more embrace of your values into everyday office life.
- Use Values to Guide Decision Making
Values provide framework for actions of the company. If something happens that the organization must make a statement on, taking the pre-determined values into consideration is a great focal point when guiding these decisions. This goes for all levels of employees—values should influence where you spend energy and priorities.
- Celebrate Values
At RecogNation, we know that employee recognition brings company values to life. When you give a peer a shout-out for following-through on a value, you are reinforcing the importance of it. It could be a verbal shout-out, an eCard, a quick ‘thank you,’ or anything in between, but it motivates that person to continue the behavior and inspires others to take company values seriously.
- Hold Yourself Accountable
When making decisions or taking specific actions in the workplace, take a moment to question if you are following through on the organization’s values. Holding yourself accountable as a leader to the company values makes you a key player in the mission and vision, and allows you to be a part of a bigger whole.
Values should not be a background notion or even an afterthought. They should influence daily interactions, guide decisions, and most importantly inspire employee recognition. By understanding and following through, you help create a connected and appreciated culture.