"Going All-in On Our Values"

?Are your company values real?

Ours weren’t. Six years ago, after having unprecedented rapid growth in our industry, Insight Global was facing a crisis. Our people were firing us. We had a record-high turnover, employee morale was at an all-time low, and company revenue—and profits—began to flat-line. So how did we end up here? We were a good company and had great people, but as we got bigger and bigger, we suddenly looked up and realized we had lost our way. We needed to find our way again and become the company we were meant to be. It was time to transform our company culture.?

That’s where our Shared Values come in. Five years ago this week, we unveiled our new set of Shared Values to Insight Global. "Shared," because they are meant to be for ALL of our people, and all of our people would have a shared responsibility in living them out:

• Everyone Matters
• We Take Care of Each Other
• Leadership Is Here To Serve
• High Character and Hard Work Above All Else
• Always Know Where You Stand

We've gone all-in on them. These shared values defined the company we were going to be. We put in the work to weave them into the very fabric of how we operate, and they've become the beating heart of our company. They’re used in our interview process and how we hire, how we onboard and train, how we make big company decisions, how we promote, how we serve our clients and consultants, and how we treat one another. They’re showcased everywhere and we’re constantly recognizing our people who live out our values in their day-to-day lives. Hell, we even have an annual awards trip for employees who best live out our Shared Values. You get it. We’re crazy about them.

But that doesn’t mean we’re perfect. While our culture has transformed because of our Shared Values, we still have work to do. That means looking in the mirror and calling out our own flaws and where we need to improve.? This is a never-ending journey for us.????

So, what’s come from all of this since unveiling our Shared Values five years ago? Our culture has completely transformed. We’ve doubled in size to more than 5000 people. We've doubled revenue and profits. We've drastically dropped turnover, performance went up, and, most importantly, our people are on better paths to becoming the best versions of themselves. Our Shared Values put our people and culture first—the business results have followed.

So back to my original question. Are your values real?

If they’re not, and you want to change that, just know that you can. But you have to go all-in. That means taking the leap and fully committing from the top down and weaving your values into the fabric of how your company operates. That means being on a never-ending journey of putting your people and your culture first, and never looking back.? That means looking in the mirror at your own flaws with your culture and values, and tirelessly working to improve. If you have the courage to take the leap, and your leadership team is united in putting your values, people, and culture first… then your people and your company will reach heights you never thought possible.?

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