WHY YOU SHOULDN'T USE S.H.I.T. VALUES

| Why You Shouldn't HAVE S.H.I.T. Values |

When it comes to identifying the values of an organisation, founders often make the mistake of using commonplace values that they think consumers will want to hear. These are what we call S.H.I.T. values (service, honesty, integrity, trust). The more commonplace your values are, the less believable they are.

I can hear you now...but shouldn't a business value these things?

Well, yes, but it's a mistake because these things should be the price of entry into having a business (and being a good human). If you have to tell me you value these things, or you believe it's what makes your business unique, then we're all screwed.

Remember Enron? They had "Honesty & Integrity" as their No.1 value. If you don't know, all their Directors ended up in jail. Values are the second decision-making filter for your business (after purpose). They are also the guardians of your purpose. They are the unique thinking of your business.

You don't need a unique value proposition, you need a unique VALUES proposition. People may buy WHY you do what you do (purpose), but your values are WHY they buy it from you!

When identifying your values, ask yourselves this question...

"What makes us unique in the way we think about our purpose?" 

Instead of stating the bleeding obvious, when developing or crystallising your organisations values, look deeper into the soul of your business, the DNA. What is the genetic code (our 4 - 6 core values) of our business that makes us unique in the way we think about the problem we are passionate about solving in our world (purpose)?

Our VALUES help our team understand HOW to think around here, not WHAT to think. And remember, how we think determines how we act.

And the business that wins (even in the infinite game) is the one that out behaves the others. What drives behaviour? Thinking.

Get your organisational thinking right.

The results will be a framework that you can use to empower your teams to make smarter decisions and encourage them to think for themselves. They will be able to formulate ideas and apply them in new and innovative ways.

When your teams are aligned with those values, they're more confident and more productive. This not only affects the bottom line but will trickle down to every other aspect of your business—from how they interact with clients to how team members treat each other. It's an integral part of standing out from the competition.

So next time, before you uncover your company values, reflect on what makes your business unique in how it thinks. They must apply to all stakeholders of your business. Then, when you communicate them, make sure your teams understand how they are part of the bigger picture.

Dave Clare, CEO & Founder - Circle Leadership

WEEKLY CLARISM

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