Values At Work

How aligned are you to the values of your organisation?

It is a question many individuals may ponder as they stare at the vision statement on the wall that proudly states the values they are expected to uphold. But do these values really work?

Maybe so... and it is likely if they do that they reflect and match a core set of personal values held by the individuals who work there.

Values and vision statements are often written behind the closed doors of a board room, brought out like the ten commandments and put then on a plague with comments akin to "Thou shall follow these at all times!".

And yet do these values actually mean anything to the people who work in these organisations?

Whilst well intentioned, the reality is that personal values will override organisational values at times of greatest need. History tells us after the Columbia disaster that a ‘self-protective culture' formed within NASA and this personal value of safety overrode the organisational value of safety. Simply, engineers identified problems but failed to speak up for fear of ridicule or demotion. Their need for personal safety meant they considered keeping their job more important than doing their job.

Achieving excellence cannot be just a statement on a brass plaque on the wall; there needs to be a careful and planned cultural alignment of personal and professional values to achieve the lofty ambitions of a success driven place of work.

Michael Henderson is an expert on Organisational Culture. Find out below how you can build lasting values and culture by registering to attend Michael's workshops in Darwin on 21st & 22nd April.

Warm wishes,

Darren and Alison