Values : Your vital signs to growth
Everybody these days have been talking about values. In the last one month, I have also done many workshops for various organizations to create awareness on their values. In my Journey with Toastmasters too, I have always heard about four values (Integrity, Respect, Service & Excellence) organization live by.
However, when we asked people who are supposed to be the custodian of these values about their understanding of these, very few were able to answer it. They were able to name these values but having in-depth understanding of these were rarely to be seen. For example, I recently asked some of them, what is their understanding of Integrity… the answer came, honesty, respect, being ethical, doing what you commit and many more. It means every person have different understanding of the same value.
Many organizations have these values hanging on their walls doing nothing except filling up that empty space. Very few organizations do a refresher after induction to re-inforce these values.
I believe values are your vital signs to growth. If you are not growing in your professional or personal life, just check your vital signs and you will get to know that you are compromising on these values and therefore, slow growth.
For example, recently, I asked a very senior official of an organization whom I regard very highly – What is value of Integrity means to him? He said in words of Mahatama Gandhi which he follows to the hilt
Integrity = Alignment of thoughts, words & Deeds
So, if you want to check whether you are following the value of Integrity, please check your vital signs by reflecting, whether your thoughts, words and actions are aligned or you are thinking something, saying something and doing something. A simple formula but a powerful one. It is important to understand in-depth meaning of each value before reflecting.
Creating a set of values and helping employees to imbibe these values creates a beautiful culture of growth in any organization. I am sharing few steps from my experience how values can be entrenched into DNA of any organization.
1) Keep it simple: Make people understand these values in simple language so that they understand it in depth.
2) Importance: Help them understand the importance of each value. How it can impact them personally and professionally in long-term. It is important to make them understand “The way you do anything; the way you do everything”. If the value is Humility – They need to be humble in their communication with their family and colleagues both. If the value is customer excellence – they need to treat their colleagues also in the same manner, the way they treat their external customers.
3) Entrenched into DNA: The value can only be entrenched into individual’s DNA when they start demonstrating behavior that will directly co-relate to that value. It becomes important to help them understand what kind of behavior they are expected to demonstrate in their day to day transactions with their teams across levels. A simple “Value Buddy” system can be put in place to give feedback on each other’s behavior. A deliberate check on these behaviors will help individuals to convert these into habits in a period of 30-40 days.
4) Change Start from them: Many times I have heard people saying – When others are not following value system, why should I. My answer is always “If you want to see the change, be the change” ( A quote by Mahatama Gandhi). We have to make them understand – you cannot take guarantee of changing others, however by adopting to this value system you can lead the change that you wish for and one-day people will start giving it back to you what you have given to them.
Instead of making whole value dissemination process a complex one, if we follow these simple steps and motivate individuals to understand what is in it for them, you will start making a difference in their lives and eventually one ripple has power to convert the whole organization culture.
