Core Values That Actually Mean Something

What are cores values and why they are important?

Core values form the foundation on which you and your business perform work and conduct yourself. This foundation and values will hold true for all – from the owner to each employee – and inform your customers what is important to you besides the bottom line. Core values clarify who you are and will guide the business processes. While articulating what you stand for, they help explain why you do business the way you do. Core values will be a constant in your business that won’t change with the whims of the market.

Defining your values gives you purpose and keeps you from drifting through life making decisions by guessing instead of your value compass. Good definition of values helps all on your team make the right decisions while giving you the confidence and courage to create a business that is worth doing. In the end, a business with strong, implemented core values will find a much life simpler.

Examples of Bad Core Values

Core values should express more than what is expected when doing business. Here are examples of extra lame core values and why they are terrible.

Creating ongoing win-win partnerships with our suppliers.
Provide excellent customer service.
Creating wealth through profits and growth.
We conduct ourselves professionally at all times and in all circumstances.

We don’t like these core values because an upstanding businesses will already have strong ethical values as a business foundation. These values are common in most successful business and not something they strive to achieve. Ethical values revolve around being responsible, being respectful, having integrity and being civic minded.

Example of Goood Core Values

Core values should express more than what is expected when doing business. Here are examples of excellent core values and why they are awesome.

Be Bold, Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded.
Share knowledge to make the world a better place.
Intuition does not come to an unprepared mind. You need to train before it happens.
Cost-consciousness drives affordable pricing and bottom line satisfaction.
Accept and thrive in responsibility.

We like these core values because they define and differentiate a company. They are used to attract the right employees, customers, and stakeholders. Core values empower and motivate employees, and give customers confidence. It provides the company with boundaries and freedom to excel within those boundaries.

How to Create a Core Value

Believe you can run a value based company. Creating core values means that from the top to the bottom, the values are believed and lived.
Know your personal goals. As the owner, you will create your values for the company first. Be honest with yourself and create values that you can live with and would want to do business with with a company holding like values.
Create a basic draft. Crafting the values requires short and simple structure like a declarative sentence.
Get support and Feedback from key employees, managers, partners, advisors, and key stakeholders.
Refine Your Core Values.
Repeat steps 4 & 5 as needed.
Celebrate and roll out the core values. Post where people will see them and can be reminded.
Integrate your core values into everything. From hiring to firing; from customer service to vendor interactions. Make your values live in the company.

Try Building Some Core Values for Your Business

1. Believe you can run a value based company. Creating core values means that from the top to the bottom, the values are believed and lived.

2. Know your personal goals. As the owner, you will create your values for the company first. Be honest with yourself and create values that you can live with and would want to do business with with a company holding like values.

3. Create a basic draft. Crafting the values requires short and simple structure like a declarative sentence.

First we will start by answering a few questions to help get the values rolling.

What beliefs do you have about business that will impact your business?
Why are we in Business?
What value do we bring to our customers?
How do our principles rule our business decisions?
What type of culture & management style will we encourage?
What makes your business unique?
How do you want your community and customers to talk about your business?
What words describe your business?
What actions describe your vision?
How do you want your business to change the world?

Answered the questions? Good. Try writing a few basic core values.

4. Get support and Feedback from key employees, managers, partners, advisors, and key stakeholders.

5. Refine Your Core Values.

6. Repeat steps 4 & 5 as needed.

7. Celebrate and roll out the core values. Post where people will see them and can be reminded.