A Growing Collection of Core Values

While going through the process of finding my next role, I've been looking back on my experiences at various organizations to find stories to share with potential employers that demonstrate how and why I'd be a good fit.??

I've been struck by how often these stories line up with the values of the companies I've worked for. I love it when values are clearly stated and frequently referenced. I love it even more when every team member lives out these values every day through their actions, both big and small. As they say, values are more than just words written on a wall.?

As I've gone through the collections of value statements across the most recent organizations I've been lucky enough to be a part of, I've seen that some have stuck with me more than others over the years. To be clear, there's value in each, uh… value… but some have resonated with me at a higher level and played a bigger role in the kind of teammate I have been and will be.?

Below are thoughts on how some of the specific values drove how I go about my work. You can dig deeper via the links to get a little more color directly from the orgs.??

Stitch Fix - Operating System?

Stitch Fix organizes things into what they call their Operating System. You can see more about the OS at https://www.stitchfix.com/careers or check out this great graphic put together by @kesutherland

Celebrate Stitch Fix grit

My take on this? Do what you can with what you have. Could you do more if only you had more? Sure! Maybe! More people, more time, more money, more expertise. Can you do something with the tools and resources and team available to you today? Absolutely. Start with what you have, see what you can learn and then maybe you'll make the case for a less "gritty" approach.?

Bonus: Raise a flag

If you see something, say something. It's not always easy to be the person to bring attention to uncomfortable business realities. Raise the flag. Call it out, share what you know, ask questions and maybe suggest a course of action to address. The other side of this for leaders is to create an environment where your folks feel safe to do this regularly.?

Spring Health - Values

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Spring Health's values consist of six statements that drive how they build culture.?

Science will win?

Given Spring Heath's approach to providing measurement-based mental healthcare, this one makes a lot of sense. It's stuck with me because you can apply a little science to a lot of the work we do as product managers. Whether it's the math that powers A/B testing or the role psychology plays in the motivation of shoppers, science can influence direction.

Bonus: Members come first?

It never hurts to come right out and say it. Members, customers, clients, readers, users. No matter what you call them, it's critical to think about every feature, change, decision etc. through the lens of those who look to benefit from the products you work on.???

Bonobos - Core Virtues?

Bonobos takes things a bit further and puts forward a set of core virtues rather than values. I'm not sure if it's still tradition, but new employees were introduced to the full team at All Hands and share the core virtue that resonated the most with them.

Positive Energy?

This one has stuck with me for sure and it's one I'm trying to lean into more and more. I've heard it from more than one leader and it's true. If I'm not excited about the product I'm talking about, why should anyone else be? Positivity is infectious, breeds happiness and leads to improved business outcomes. More on all that via The Happiness Advantage.

Bonus: Self Awareness?

Another one I'm working on, which is maybe an example of self awareness! Whether it's through reflecting on my own or seeking input from others, it's been useful to learn more about my strengths and weaknesses as I look for my next role. Being able to take a step back and observe your behavior as others might can help you make adjustments that better serve you, the business and users.???

Warby Parker - Core Values?

I mentioned above the idea that values are more than words written on a wall. That's certainly true at Warby Parker. You can see the values (both directly and indirectly) listed out in their 2023 Impact Report, but you'll also find them painted on a wall at HQ.?See above. ?

Treat others as they want to be treated?

Fun fact about this one. It was originally "treat others as YOU want to be treated" and then it was changed to as THEY. Hearing about that edit was a revelation. It helped me be more conscious of the kinds of relationships I develop with stakeholders and partners and make more of an effort to cater my communication style and approach to ways that work for them, not just me. This is also a great example of how important it is to regularly assess your organizational values and adjust when and if it makes sense.??

Bonus: Presume positive intent?

I was asked to explain what this means in my interview. It was a great question and took me off guard a bit. I don't always remember to follow this one, but I'm always glad when I do. It's incredibly easy to jump to the worst case in certain situations in terms of why someone acted a certain way. In reality, most folks are trying to do good as they see it and did their best to do just that. Starting out with that presumption makes for so much less worry and swirl.?

The values of an organization are both aspirational and a reflection. They're ideals to live up to in the future and the characteristics of the team that got an org to where it is today. If you've gotten this far, thanks for reading! I'd love to hear about any value statements from your past or present that have driven how you go about your work. What left a mark and how has it informed your actions day-to-day??