Having detailed why a framework for building the foundation of our organizations around our core values is so important and now having three simple steps in laid out to serve as the framework - consistent communication, keeping our values visible all the time, and intentionally weaving them into eve...
Assuming you’ve taken to heart the idea of consistency trumping intensity and the importance of wearing our values on our sleeves, even if you don’t feel like you quite built either completely into your routine yet, we’re at a great place. Each are critical role pieces in the framework for laying a ...
I remember hearing a story about an old man who’s wife was in tears. He reluctantly asked what was wrong and she replied that he clearly didn’t love her any more because it had been years since he told her so. He scoffed and said, “I told you that I loved you when we got married. I’ll let you know i...
Developing clarity around the specific impact we want to have on everyone we’re serving through our core values will require focus. Building strong alliances with trusted sources we can count on to provide us with candid feedback on how we are (or aren’t) living up to those values takes time and inc...
Early on in this process as we looked at what happens when foundational values aren’t in place (and a few times since), I referenced an article from MITSloan Management Review called “When It Comes to Culture, Does Your Company Walk the Talk?”, where the authors shared this about how frequently comp...
While the best organizations I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with or studying are indeed build on foundation of strong values, it never happens by chance. Even the best of intentions won’t come close to producing the lasting results we’re capable of achieving when we develop the discipline of ...
I’ll quote John once more just to make sure it sinks in: “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” If we’re not excited about how our core values are currently serving as the foundation of our organization, that’s on us as leaders. If we are happy with that foundation, keep up the good work - and ...
While Terry Francona was the manager of the Boston Red Sox during the late season collapse in 2011, and he contract option wasn’t renewed afterward, I’m not placing the blame exclusively on him. Quite frankly, I thought John Lackey was a goon long before that. And while Francona held the “manager” t...
Building a successful culture that perpetuates based on our foundational core values will indeed be one that produces wins for everyone involved, but winning won’t be the sole motivation for the great people we attract to our team through this process. High standards, consistently exceeding expectat...
Once we’ve laid a foundation around the simple practices involved with modeling our core company values and we’ve provided our teams with a consistent example of what each value living out each value looks like in practice, we should be well on our way to building the culture we’re after within our ...
To build a reputation that drives results, one that each person who ever hears about us will connect with our core values, being intentional in our approach to providing world-class service and being sure to detail why we’re willing to do it is part of our responsibility as leaders. But doing any of...
Even when we’ve done everything in our power to model the core values our business is built on, we can’t just assume that everyone who cares about those values will automatically connect our behaviors to the reputation we’re working to establish (or maintain). It’s up to us to explain why we’ve chos...
