What got us thinking week #8

Our weekly dose of three things to read to give you great chat at work this week. We do the hard work so you don't have to.

Does Patagonia have similar values to Shell?

When trying to articulate company values it's tempting to come up with single words that encapsulate the behaviours you are trying to encourage. Single words are easy to remember, and easy for people around the table to agree on. The only problem is they risk being so vague they can be interpreted in many different ways. This blog post from Phil Adams shows the pitfalls of this approach, by calling out companies that share the same single word values, but would be horrified to be thought of as having similar philosophies. Patagonia sharing values with Shell? You bet. Read on for more...

Don't forget to be a decent human being

Following on from that, one of the beliefs we hold dear at The Loves is that your values should say more than simply telling your people how to be decent human beings. It goes without saying that workers should treat their colleagues, customers and suppliers with respect. However this article from Harvard Business Review's management tips about kindness in the workplace is a useful reminder that just because we've got our work hat on, we shouldn't leave our humanity at the door.

What we've learned from a 102 year old

With ageism in the workplace becoming a hot topic as populations age, we can always learn from those who are more experienced at being alive than we are. And you don't get many people more experienced than Dr Gladys McGary who at 102 shares her experiences with us all. At 70 she started a new medical practice. Then at 85 she travelled to Afghanistan to teach rural women safer birthing practices. And for her 90th birthday party she jumped out of her birthday cake. Hear how she has maintained her energy and enthusiasm for over a century on Sam Baker's podcast The Shift.

The Loves Corner

Meanwhile closer to home, Jules has been experimenting with a new vlogging camera. Isn't vlogging something that only 23 year olds do? Well, maybe. But after listening to Dr McGary and her boundless enthusiasm, I'm experimenting with creating a new YouTube channel around my passion for photography, and old cameras. Stay tuned!