Values bind any group of people with a common goal. Clear values motivate people and prevent them from floundering when the going gets tough.
That’s why successful companies make a great effort to make sure that their employees understand and share the company’s vision.
This can be much easier for startups than companies that have been established a long time. It can be due to fewer staff (at the beginning at least), greater interaction between management and staff, and also the fact that as a newly created entity the founders and staff often share the firm’s unique vision from its genesis.
It can be much harder for bigger enterprises to communicate their values to employees. Doing so, however, can make an organization more successful. Unclear or conflicting values can derail a company’s vision and competitiveness.
Any successful corporate communication starts with a healthy business model. This model should apply to all levels of the organization.
Having two sets of rules within an organization can create resentment amongst staff. The incongruence can erode the collective will to invest in the company. Leaders must lead by example. When employees trust and respect management, an organization is more unified.
Remove ambiguity regarding values
Communication of your business’s values must be clear and simple from the beginning. As a benchmark, all staff should be able to explain the company’s values if queried.
If employees that don’t have a clear grasp of the company’s values, this leaves room for confusion and doubt. They may also fill in the blanks with their own values, which can create turmoil for a business.
Say it, believe it, do it
There’s no magic formula when recalibrating enterprises reeling from a misaligned value system. It’s a matter of hard work and persistence on the part of management. Repeat (and revise, if necessary) your mission statement as if it were a mantra. Make it visible and adhere to it.
This won’t change or align your employees’ vision overnight, but the message will get through over time.
Being clear about your firm’s values is particularly important when hiring new people. You need to inculcate them with the right value system from the start. Even better, see that they already share the vision and spirit of the team they will be joining.
Foster an open door policy
Shared values are so important that you should do everything you can to foster them. Therefore, prioritize an open door policy. Your staff should feel that they can ask any questions regarding the company’s policy without there being any backlash or negative impact. At the very least, when workers feel comfortable, they will be more productive.
Aligning the values of your staff and your business will help to achieve a happy, productive workforce. A defined, accessible value system is an essential part of hiring the right talent and creating the best atmosphere for future success.