Value Your Values

Ingrained in each of us is a personal set of core values that drives our interests, our focus, and defines what is important in our lives. Many people do not stop to consider what those values are because they don’t typically hover at the top of our minds as we think through actions and decisions. Those core values reside more in our “gut” feelings. To be an effective leader, self-knowledge and introspection are important to define who you are as a leader based on those values. It is equally as important to know what values you do NOT hold dear and where your weaknesses or “blind spots” lie. Once the values are recognized and defined, they should be shared so your team understands what drives you and finds alignment with the direction you are heading.

I was raised in a small, but close family. My parents were active in my life and supported my interests as I grew up. Regular attendance at church and participation in youth events were a norm for me. It is no surprise, then, that topping my own list of values is faith and family. My sense of loyalty likely stems from this upbringing.

I also grew up appreciating education and opportunities to learn. Everyone in my family has several degrees and certifications so we were always taught to learn about things that interested us. There was no easy way out, either. If I were to ask my parents as a shortcut, I would always be directed to the encyclopedia, the dictionary, or the library. Those were my options in the times before Google! To this day, I continue to value and encourage education, recognizing that education is not always formal. It could be one-to-one or group training, a certificate program, or a video lesson.

Finally, kindness and understanding were instilled in me from a young age. While I can always improve in these areas, they do help drive how I approach others and how I react to their approach to me. I bristle at rudeness and value people who show empathy and care toward others.

These formative experiences created my personal set of values. Personal values carry over into relationships, family life, and work life. My wife, Jessica, and I are aligned in our values. We both put our family first and have raised our children to practice their faith, and place importance in learning and kindness.

These values drove the conversation about my company’s values. Our corporate values include showing courtesy, approaching work with a positive attitude, respect for those we serve and our teammates, a commitment to excellence, and a focus on satisfaction. These have been consolidated into the acronym CARES, which is in itself a value. Our corporate values are so important that we include them on our documents and in our conversations. When we are looking to hire employees, we put the values in our job descriptions and postings, ask about alignment with them in interviews, and speak about them in staff meetings. We have a recognition program for staff who do an exceptional job demonstrating our values. We even include the demonstration of our values as a rating on our annual evaluation form. Values are critical to the culture you create in your organization. When someone does not align with the values of the company, it is best to invite them to seek employment elsewhere.

Several years ago, my first executive coach asked me to write a personal mission statement. He pushed me to use several adjectives to describe who I was and how that made me approach my work. In the end, my statement read, “I am a reserved, thoughtful, competitive, and competent person who is driven by faith and family and is striving to be a practical, methodical, caring, and loyal leader who is fair and consistent. I take my responsibilities seriously while working to be an innovate and strategic visionary.” I think this largely continues to ring true. In fact, I think priorities shift over time, but once a set of values is defined within you, it tends to be a part of who you are as a person. My mission statement and personal values are not things I share a great deal, but I do demonstrate my values as the opportunity arises. It helps my board and my team know me better and understand what to expect from my leadership.