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Achieve Your Objectives by Communicating Values
The importance of communication is highlighted best when communicating values. It is the quickest way to get others to support your vision and achieve your goals.
People develop personal values throughout life. When they join an organization, they agree to live and act by a set of corporate beliefs.
If your goal is effective workplace communication, as a leader you must uphold the corporate values so that employees will become committed to the organization.
The best way to improve communication and bridge gaps is through a shared set of beliefs. When personal values align with corporate values, this helps employees commit and fully participate in pursuing corporate goals.
Organizations known for attracting employees who will subscribe to the organization’s belief system and the consistent application of the principles are communicating values that give them a competitive edge.
When corporate values are published, followed, and consistent with our own, employees feel that the climate that is fair, inclusive, and ethical. This increases cohesion, promotes creativity, and improves overall productivity.
Leadership and Corporate Values
For years, the U.S. Army has trained soldiers at every rank to be a team player and to step up and lead when called upon.
Good leaders set the tone by their example. When faced with tough decisions, they uphold the corporate values and consistently make the right choices. Their actions reveal their true character and they inspire others to follow their example.
Those who appreciate the corporate beliefs do what is right. They recognize that living the corporate values makes it easier for everyone to know and understand what is expected of them.
U.S. Army soldiers adhere to seven values contained in the acronym LDRSHIP: Loyalty, Dedication, Respect, Selfless-service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. Whether an officer or enlisted, hundreds of thousands of members are expected to adhere to these principles.
The most successful organizations have a set of values that everyone must follow. Some great examples of corporate values that proved successful:
Pat Riley, coach of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers dynasty won five National Basketball Association championships. He had a set of team values he called their “Core Covenant.”
Herb Kelleher, Chairman, President, and CEO of Southwest Airlines, successfully communicated his vision and the “Southwest Core Values” throughout his organization to impact the entire aviation industry.
Pat Summitt, the Division I coach with the most wins in NCAA history at the University of Tennessee, coached the Lady Volunteers basketball team to eight national titles. She has a set of values she calls the “Definite Dozen.”
Whether business, sports, or the military, the key ingredients are belief in communicating values and participation by everyone on the team.
