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What Are Your Company's Core Values?
October 2, 2007
What values are so inherent in your company that without them you'd disappear? Why do people enjoy working for you and why do people shop with you?
Whole Foods, a grocery store that has grown into a mega conglomerate across the nation, has very specific core values and they state them for everyone to see online. As they state on their
web site:
These are not values that change from time to time, situation to situation or person to person, but rather they are the underpinning of our company culture. Many people feel Whole Foods is an exciting company of which to be a part and a very special place to work. These core values are the primary reasons for this feeling, and they transcend our size and our growth rate. By maintaining these core values, regardless of how large a company Whole Foods becomes, we can preserve what has always been special about our company. These core values are the soul of our company.
What are your core values? It's time for an honest assessment of yourself.
- Why do your employees want to work for you?
- If it's just for a paycheck, list that
- Is it because they like what you stand for and because you believe in them?
- It's a fun, hip establishment that helps their cache among their peers?
- Is it because you believe in helping others and the world at large and this gives them a feeling of giving back?
- List all the reasons you can think of (ask their help as well)
- Why do customers continue to shop with you?
- Do you have excellent customer service and they feel special?
- Are your products top quality, but your customer service is average? (That's okay, by the way, because you'll be known as the company who values--and doesn't compromise--on quality)
- Because the food is good?
- Because they've never been cheated or ripped off?
- List all the reasons and see what the common thread is
- Why are you still in business long after your competition has folded?
- What do you know about your previous competition and their reputation?
- Why did they close their doors?
- What advantages do/did you have that help sustain your business?
- Why are you better?
- Why are people willing to invest in you?
- Do they believe in the product?
- Do they believe in the company and what they perceive you to be?
- If you changed how you do business, would you back away?
- Are you a product driven company or a people focused company?
- Most companies are one or the other
- Where does your company stand when facing an obstacle?
- When standing before a judge, would you lie and say your company does this or that?
- How does the press view you in the newspapers and online?
- Do your core values stand up to the money test? Would you lose everything to fight for what you believe you stand for?
- What are you passionate about?
- Does everybody in the company know your core values and why they're important?
- If they values are not apparent, is it because management is just playing lip service?
- Are raises/bonuses given based on your core beliefs/values?
- [This isn't necessary, but it helps to reinforce them on a daily basis]
Here are examples of core values:
Posted by Suze Bragg on October 2, 2007 | Comments (0)
