Your company is embracing innovation. How can you ensure your core values remain intact?

Values are just words. The way people believe in them, and translate them into personal action is what matters. The way to keep company values alive is to relinquish control over the actual words used, and to allow people to develop their own vocabulary and interpretation. And then talk about these diverse stories.

Start by clearly articulating how those values align with the new direction. Reinforce the idea that innovation and core values aren’t mutually exclusive but can complement each other. Embed your values into the innovation process by using them as guiding principles for decision-making and evaluating new ideas. Regularly communicate the importance of these values to your team and highlight examples where innovation has been successful without compromising them. Encourage feedback and discussions to ensure everyone feels that the company’s core identity is being preserved as it evolves. By staying rooted in your values while encouraging creative growth, you can maintain balance and continuity.

Innovation thrives when built on your core values. Your core values are the guiding principles that define who you are, what you do, and how you do it. Any innovation strategy should not only align with but also strengthen these core values, rather than alter them. When crafting your innovation strategy, start with what empowers your core values, ensuring they remain the foundation of all progress and change. Additionally, establish a regular monitoring process to ensure that innovation initiatives are consistently reinforcing these core principles. Measure success against values. When evaluating the success of innovation efforts, include metrics that assess how well these initiatives align with and uphold your company’s core values.

Para asegurarse de que los valores fundamentales de la empresa permanezcan intactos mientras adoptan la innovación, es importante alinearla con la cultura organizacional existente. Comunicar claramente cómo los cambios refuerzan los principios clave, involucrar a los líderes en promover el equilibrio entre tradición e innovación, y mantener un enfoque centrado en las personas ayudará a integrar las nuevas ideas sin perder la esencia de la empresa. Además, evaluar regularmente el impacto de la innovación para garantizar que los valores se mantengan en el centro es crucial.

Innovation vs. core values. You're not changing your DNA; you're evolving it. You want to innovate in a way that screams "us" at every turn. And, it's a bit of a dance. Be sure to: - Define your non-negotiables. What makes you, you? Filter innovations through your values. If it doesn't align, scrap it. - Communicate relentlessly. Show how new ideas extend values, not break them. - Lead by example. Actions trump comms. - Reward value-aligned innovation. Make those folks heroes. - Create "value guardians" across departments. With regular reality checks. Be brutally honest. - Train for values-driven innovation. - Celebrate the tension. Magic happens where groundbreaking meets timeless. The key: Evolve but don't abandon who you are.