2014 Resolution:
Let’s Define and Brand Ourselves
(Part 1 of 3)
The Value
of Values
In addition to
developing a personal Mission statement (Part 2)- an action plan for guiding
our business and our life, consider a developing and articulating a set of Values.
Values are
operating principles. They are the ‘go to’ statements that test the efficacy of
a situation or an idea. Values guide the decision-making process and help us to
safely test the waters in new territory.
What are
Values?
Quite simply, they
are the statements that define the way in which we want to conduct our lives.
Writing down and living with a set of values helps create the picture we
want others to judge us by. Values help us make decisions and choices. They
guide us when the going gets rough.
Personal
Values
One of my favorite
examples of Values is from Zappos. Zappos has created a vibrant culture around
10 core principles. In my opinion they walk the talk.
Zappos Values:
Values are uniquely
our own. They can be fun, serious or a combination of the two. Values define
how we want to world to view our actions.
Values for
Groups
Values also help us
as we create collaborative groups. When we are forming a group to address
a task, consider the first order of business to write a Mission statement and a
set of Values. These statements will drive and define the group’s task and the
way in which it is accomplished. The Values decided upon by the group create
consensus and provide parameters for decision-making. Values also create a
‘fair witness’, an agnostic platform to test decisions.
For
Organizations:
Personally, when
considering interacting with an organization, the first thing I do is look for
their Values statement. It tells me about the culture the organization
fosters and the principles by which it operates.
Most businesses and
non profit organizations have a Mission statement on the ‘About Us’ page of
their website. Many fewer have an articulated set of Values.
Why? Mission
statements are common because it is the centerpiece of communication about the
organization. Mission statements define the action plan of the organization.
Mission statements are also an element that funders require in a grant
proposal. In my opinion, funders should also ask for an articulated set of
Values. It would help them to understand the culture in which they are
investing.
Creating
Personal Values
When we consider
articulating a set of Values, let’s consider the legacy we want to leave.
-How do we want to
be perceived and remembered?
-What Values do we
admire in others?
-What principles do
we employ when we make decisions?
-When are we most
proud of ourselves?
From these
inquiries we can develop and articulate a set of Values. Mine? On my website www.mfgrants.com
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