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- Define Your Values: The first step in building a values-driven company culture is to define your values. Your values should reflect your business’s purpose, mission, and vision. They should guide your decision-making, behaviour, and interactions with stakeholders. Once you have defined your values, ensure they are communicated clearly to all employees and integrated into every aspect of your business. REAL’s values of Respect, Ethics, Activism & Love are explored in a little more depth in this blog.
- Lead by Example: Leaders are critical in building a values-driven company culture. They must embody their values, consistently demonstrate them in their behaviour, and hold themselves accountable. Leaders who lead by example inspire employees to follow suit, creating a culture of integrity, trust, and respect.
- Hire for Values: To build a values-driven company culture, hiring employees who share your values is essential. During the hiring process, look for candidates who align with your values and have demonstrated them in their past behaviour. Hire employees who are committed to your business’s purpose and mission and are willing to go the extra mile to achieve them. Ask questions specifically to allow individuals to highlight their values. Give examples of where the business has stayed true to their values potentially even at the cost of profitability to demonstrate your commitment.
- Foster Collaboration & Openness: Collaboration is essential for building a values-driven company culture. By fostering a culture of collaboration, you create an environment where employees can work together to achieve common goals, share ideas and knowledge, and support each other. Collaboration also helps to break down silos, encourage innovation, and increase employee engagement. A culture of openness build trust, it makes people feel safe to bring their true self to work and to also fail. There can be no success without failure and it should be celebrated as such.
- Recognise and Reward: Finally, it is crucial to recognise and reward employees who demonstrate your values. By acknowledging employees’ contributions to the business’s purpose and mission, you reinforce the importance of your values and create a culture of appreciation and gratitude. Rewards can come in many forms, such as promotions, bonuses, public recognition, or even time off. If you recognise people who are high achievers but who do not embody your values to their core then that is what will become the norm within your business.
Building a values-driven company culture is a long-term process that requires commitment, dedication, and hard work. By defining your values, leading by example, hiring for values, fostering collaboration, and recognising and rewarding employees who demonstrate your values, you can create a culture that aligns with your business’s purpose, mission, and vision. A values-driven company culture not only creates a positive impact on society and the planet but also attracts and retains top talent, leading to long-term success.
