Core Values (How to figure it out)

Most people have a general sense of what they consider the internal rules they live by, basically, it’s the voice inside your head that guides your decision-making process when confronted with either a dilemma, problem or creative idea. 

First: you must establish the type of outcomes you generally seek for almost any situation, whether it be a problem, an idea for something to create, or a situational based scenario. Many times, the outcomes your seeking are those that satisfy some type of responsibility you have or could be dreams and goals (vision).

Second: you must decide how you want to obtain the outcomes the how is actually where the value comes in.. examples: (quickly, ethically, fun, experiential, team-based, individual-based, empathetically driven, etc..)

Third: put the values into a sentence

Fourth: shorten the sentence to one or two words (now those are your core values)

Fifth: the list should only be your top 4 to 5 core values, it doesn’t mean you don’t have more, but they should be the musts in most or all of your decision making.

Rule: the core values you have for your business should be the same ones you apply in your personal life, so for me as an example, they are one and the same.

Practice: just like your top personal strengths, your 4-5 top core values need to be memorized and practiced – This is what I call core value implementation.

Jen’s Example: They are my company’s and my personal core values

Team First (the good of the team comes before the good of any individual)

……….the Team can be anything from your team at work to your family viewed as a team…ACS Team Sensational (business), Team Bulkley (family)

Solve Problems (the worst decision is to make no decision) here I believe in solving problems …not causing problems, find a solution..where there is a will there is a way. Again- applicable to anything in life whether business or personal.

Get Recognized (through excellence)..reward people in the manner in which they earn and deserve, they are not simply just entitled to be recognized.

Do More (while having fun) no one will be punished for making a decision even if it breaks the rules when using common sense and having the best interest of the customer in mind. This can also be looked at as going above and beyond when it is prudent to do so, in that, the receiver will have a better experience..again completely applicable in business or personal life.

Here are a few more I have: transparency (nothing to hide), integrity (staying true to who I am), adventure (life is too short, don’t take it so seriously), positivity (glass half full-always).

-by Jennifer L. Bulkley